Asafa Powell - File

Former world record holder Asafa Powell does not believe it will take a world record time to win the 100m Olympic title in London, come this summer.

Usain Bolt, the reigning Olympic champion and world record holder over the 100m and 200m, with times of 9.58 seconds and 19.19 seconds, respectively, said recently during an interview on the BBC1 programme '100 Days to Go' that persons are looking forward to him running 9.4 seconds over the 100m at the London 2012 games. But Powell does not believe that has to be the case to claim the title.

"Anything can happen, any card can play," Powell pointed out following a LIME press conference to announce the telecommunications giant's sponsorship of the teams to this year's Penn Relays.

"It doesn't take a world record to win the Olympics; it's just the best man on the day that wins. Whatever it takes to win, that man will win; it's just the gold medal, that's the most important thing," he added.

Powell, who has broken the 10-second barrier legally over 100m more times than anyone else, understands what Bolt is going through, and he knows what it is like to face public pressure.

"When people see you do something they expect a lot more, so they see Bolt run 9.5 (seconds); they expect him to run faster," Powell said.

"They always expect a world record when you are out there and I have experienced it.

"When you're on the track people always looking for a world record; when it's not a world record there's disappointment. But that's not how it goes, they just have to understand that we are athletes and we are not machines."

This will be Powell's third trip to the Olympics, but he has only managed fifth place finishes on both of his previous visits. The 29-year-old has sought to put those disappointments behind him and has assured that he has his sights set on the number one spot this time around.

"It is the past; putting that behind me, finishing fifth at two Olympics," Powell stated.

"This is my third Olympics Games and I'm going there to win, not to come fifth again. I have been training harder, a lot more focused on what I am supposed to do, on staying free from injuries and just being healthy, that's the key," he added.

The MVP Track Club member did concede, however, that there has been plenty of disappointments in his career, but has vowed to bounce back and prove to the world that he can perform, as he has done in the past.

"There have been disappointments but that's what makes you stronger and that's what makes it a lot more enjoyable when you get that gold," Powell said.