Warren Weir

MOSCOW, Russia:

A few years ago, Warren Weir was in his living room cheering on Usain Bolt as he set the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games alight with record-breaking brilliance.

Next week, Weir, the Olympic 200m bronze medallist will walk into the Moscow's Luzhniki Stadium as one of Bolt's main competitors in the 200m; a reality that he is still trying to come to grips with.

"I was in my living room watching Bolt and I told myself that I wanted to be there and to see that in 2013 I am one of his rivals, I consider that an accomplishment for myself," said Weir.

Bolt is expected to win easily in the 200m, but Weir, the second-fastest man at the championships this year, with a 19.79 personal best run at the Sainsbury's London Anniversary Games, a few weeks ago, says he is looking forward to giving his superstar training partner a good run.

"My confidence level is sky high. I am nowhere near nervous or pressured, I am just taking it day by day and when the competition starts I will take it round by round and focus on getting the job done," said Weir.

"I am in good shape, I have run more 19 seconds this year than last year and I am expecting to go higher up the podium and leave Moscow with a personal best or a very fast time," he added.

"The past few races I have had leading up to the World Championships, I had some pretty good executions; pretty good running off the corner; first 80m out the blocks and so on, so it's coming on good and I am pleased with the technical aspect of the 200m so far."