A win today for Usain Bolt will confirm his legacy as "legend."
The Jamaican sprinter is set to compete in the men's 200-meter final at 3:55 p.m. EDT, and he's entering the track as the defending gold medalist from the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics. A victory in Bolt will make him the first man to successfully win consecutive 200-meter races.
For many track and field fans, Bolt is already a legend, but he won't consider the nickname until his name is first on the 200-meter leaderboard.
His run will come with fellow Jamaican runner Yohan Blake, looking to win his first Olympic gold medal as the 2011 world champion in the 200-meter and defeated Bolt in the 200-meter during the Jamaican Olympic trials.
"There's a lot of people there who have come to spoil the party, so we'll see," said Bolt. "That's how people are. They're always doubting a champion. But that's why I'm here, to cement my legendary status. I'm focused and I'm ready."
Bookies predict Bolt to comfortably win the 200-meter race despite stiff competition from Blake, fellow Jamaican Warren Weir, and American Wallace Spearmon. Predictions are even made if a new world record will happen. Bookies suggest a new record will not happen, but the odds are very narrow.
Bolt currently holds the record for the 200-meter race with 19.19 seconds during the Berlin World Championships in 2009.
As Latinos Post reported yesterday, the United Kingdom's official weather service predicts that Mother Nature might favor the opportunity for a new world record.
"It is going to get a little warmer, the temperature will be up to [70 to 72 degrees Farenheit]. There will be no wind and the clouds will have broken, so in every way it is going to be pretty much perfect conditions for a race like this," said Robin Thwates, of the weather service Met Office.
Usain Bolt's Olympic Track & Field Schedule:
200-Meter
Men's 200-meter Final: August 9, 3:55 p.m. EDT
4x100-Meter Relay
Men's 4x100-meter Relay Round 1: - August 10, 2:45 p.m. EDT
Men's 4x100-meter Relay Final: - August 11, 4 p.m. EDT