BERLIN, Germany:

Usain Bolt was his usual relaxed self yesterday as he hit the stage in a real dancehall setting with hot steamy conditions, gate crashers being barred at the gate by security, the heavy sound of hard-core reggae music, Rastafarians, girls dressed in Jamaican colours, Jamaican jerked chicken and homestyle potato pudding.

Bolt warned his rivals that victory was the only thing on his mind.

"The level of expectation (at home) is even higher than before Beijing, but I am ready," said the man who clocked 9.69 seconds for the 100 metres and 19.30 over 200m to reap double individual gold at the Beijing Olympic Games. He set the track in China alight again when he ran the third leg on the relay team which clocked a world record 37.10 seconds.

High standards

"I am confident, but not too confident. Just confident in my ability," he told the crowd of journalists and well-wishers, including his parents, Wellesley and Jennifer Bolt, and Minister of Youth, Culture and Sport, Olivia Grange, who is in Berlin for the championships.

"I train hard and I know I put the work in, so I am confident that I will go out there and do my best. I want World Championships gold. I have set a standard for myself so I need to live up to it," said the Trelawny native who turns 23 on August 21.

Bolt said he was especially looking forward to the clash with Tyson Gay, as the two had "not faced each other all season" and he was always being reminded about the fast times Gay has clocked.

The first and second round of the men's 100 metres will be run tomorrow with the semi-finals and final on Sunday. Bolt and Gay will run in the men's 100 and 200 metres. The opening round of the 200m is on Tuesday.

elton.tucker@gleanerjm.com