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February 15, 2012
Star Sport


 

Is Bolt hurt?

( L - R ) Usain Bolt, Glen Mills, Yohan Blake - File

- Coach Mills, teammate Blake say no, but sprinter spotted in Germany; rumoured to visit famous doctor

Glen Mills, coach of world fastest man Usain Bolt, his teammate Yohan Blake and agent Ricky Simms have all denied claims that the double Olympic champion is currently struggling with an injury.

Speculation has been rife since the sprinter pulled out of the Camperdown Classic last weekend, with slightly different explanations given as to why he missed the meet. Word coming out of his camp, however, is that none of them have to do with the fact that he is injured.

According to Mills, the star sprinter has fully recovered and trained the day before he left the island for a business trip.

"Bolt is not injured," Mills told UK-based publication The Telegraph.

It is reported that Bolt was, however, spotted in Germany late last week, fuelling rumours that athlete was in town to visit noted physician Hans Muller-Wohlfahrt for an injury concern. The athlete is, however, scheduled for periodic visits to the German physician, as he was born with scoliosis, a curvature of the lower spine. According to Blake, his teammate is in good condition and well on the way to getting back to his brilliant best.

"Usain is getting back to his old self," he said.

"He's not frightened of me. He's the world's fastest man and he knows what he can do."

Simms, in the meantime, dismissed rumours of the sprinter's injuries as mere speculation.

"People can put two and two together and make five. Any speculation is ridiculous," Simms said.

Bolt, the double world record holder, with a time of 9.58 in the 100m and 19.19 in the 200m, both set at the Beijing Olympics, was forced to call a premature end to the 2010 season because of a back problem.

The sprint king seemed to struggle to get back to his best the following season, and despite retaining the 200m at the World Championships, Bolt got disqualified in the 100m final, eventually won by Blake and really failed to hit the heights of the previous season with his times on the track. Bolt, however, ended last season on a positive note, clocking the season's best time in the 100m, 9.76, set at the Brussels Diamond League meet.



Fact line - usain's fight for fitness

Closes 2010 season early because of tightness in his lower back.

Sprinter has slow start to 2011 season but still goes on to claim World Championships 200m title, in August, but disqualified from the 100m final after false-starting.

Returns to run fastest 100m time of the year (9.76) at end of season at Brussels.

Says that he is expected to open the season the 2012 season at the Camperdown meet.

Leaves the island a few days before the Camperdown meet and does not compete.

The athlete is reported to have been spotted in Germany late last week. But the athlete is scheduled to make planned visits to specialists Hans Muller-Wohlfahart twice per year.

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