T&FN INTERVIEW The former star turned acclaimed TV analyst offers up his thoughts on the modern speed scene heading into the Ato Boldon World Championships by Sieg Lindstrom out here as the only one [addressing reality]. beat Bolt running 9.78. He beat a really bad Bolt. “Ato’s throwing in the towel!” Then to get through the U.S. Champs and With the World Championships in upon Hello, guys. Everybody’s already doing run 9.89 Gatlin did well to just qualify. I just us, T&FN checked in for a sprints talk with Ato supplements. They have been for decades. don’t think that this year Gatlin is going to be Boldon, NBC and Universal Sports broadcaster and T&FN: I would hate to see an “anything able to deal with Bolt if Bolt is healthy and he host of the IAAF’s “Inside Athletics” social media goes” sport. I don’t like to watch feature. Boldon, 39, knows a thing or two about the humanly impossible competition topic, of course, having won two bronzes in the ’96 courtesy of steroids and other Boldon’s sterling Olympics, the ’97 Worlds 200 title and 100 silver major PEDs. Honestly, though, at the ’00 Olympics for Trinidad. I think track needs to think more career found A 2-time NCAA champion for UCLA, and the carefully about public perception him dashing 200’s No. 1 World Ranker in ’98, Boldon rated and minor offenses. globally in the deuce 5 times and rated 7 seasons People want to ban Asafa in 4 Olympics in the 100 (No. 2s in ’98, ’00 & ’01). Powell for life; they’re talking A true fan and stat nut, Boldon, who also speed- about his stimulant positive as if trains football players with NFL aspirations in the he were Lance Armstrong. winter, follows the sport passionately and is not By contrast, how many baseball fans realize or, most importantly, care that if Asafa “What’s not getting through is Powell were a Major Leaguer that everything is not steroids… his punishment for a first offense a lot of these substances are would be… nothing. Second just ineffective.” offense? 10-15 games, I believe. Not even a month. Our sport’s athletes end up shy with his analyses. looking like Hannibal Lecter for As it turned out, we spoke with Boldon just offenses that amount to a “so days before news broke of doping positives for Tyson what?” in other sports. Gay and . Since Ato, like many fans, Boldon: What’s not getting most eagerly looked forward to a Bolt-Gay 100 through is that everything is clash in Moscow, after we round-filed the 100 and not steroids. What’s also not 200 formcharts, we spoke again with Boldon just getting through at all is that a before press time for some followup. lot of these substances are just Some of that conversation appears right up front ineffective. here in place of that blown up by Gay’s bombshell. You know how periodically there are things on the list T&FN: Well, here we are, talking again because and they go through and take says he “trusted” somebody else as the this one off the banned list gatekeeper to substances going into his system. As or that one off the banned new allegations trickle out, Gay’s offense appears to list? I think now is a time for involve something more serious than a stimulant in that, too. There needs to be a a supplement—although the rumored substance is reassessment of that list. allowed in Major League Baseball—and he should, The people whom I talk as he has said, “take [his] punishment like a man.” to that don’t know anything Nonetheless, you’ve taken the stance in recent about sports but understand days that WADA should reconsider its ban on chemistry look at some stimulants of the type Asafa Powell and Sherone substances on the list and Simpson apparently ingested. say, “Dude, are you serious? Boldon: Yeah, and that is certainly very They’re busting people for controversial but I’m trying to tell it like it that?! That stuff is bullshit.” is; everybody else is trying to tell it the way T&FN: Sadly, Gay’s fall rips it should be. a huge hole in the Moscow men’s What’s making me frustrated is that former 100. Earlier you had posited athletes who I know used to be supplementing he had a reasonable chance of because I know who they bought their challenging Bolt. supplements from are saying, “Nobody should Do you think , be taking anything; we should all just be…” after his hamstring injury, can get back to where has had this sort of a setback. C’mon. Really?! There are a lot of he was in Rome when he beat Bolt? Gatlin to me is 2nd until I see different. sanctimonious former athletes now. I’ve just Boldon: He might but Bolt isn’t going to be T&FN: Bolt got off to a slow start by his decided I’m done [talking about it] because I the Bolt of Rome. Gatlin might well get back standards this year. He seems to be coming around, at the end of the day I’m not going to be left there but he beat Bolt in 9.94. It’s not like he though, as he did for . What kind of Bolt

46 — September 2013 Track & Field News do you expect to see in Moscow? Boldon: I think that Most of the principles in the Olympic 100 final Bolt’s days of running won’t be around for the Moscow climax fantastic Diamond League times like he did back in ‘08 and ‘09 might be behind him (see sidebar) but I still don’t think he’s going to be as vulnerable as some think come championship time. I think it’s going to take 9.7-low to win in Moscow. Gay might have been able to get there. He ran under 9.7 four years ago and he ran 9.75 this year but he ran it with 2.0 winds. I think Bolt will show up not in London shape, but I think in just slightly worse shape. That, to me, would put him in 9.7 shape. T&FN: How do you expect the Moscow 200 to

play out? g iancarlo colo mb o /PHOTO RUN Boldon: I just feel like Bolt’s better race is the 200 and I don’t expect take all three medals. and she sort of self-destructed. But three other any upsets based on what I’ve seen thus far. The 200 doesn’t hold a whole lot of intrigue athletes I had high hopes for last year were T&FN: Who else are you looking for in the 100? for me. I just feel that in the end Bolt’s too gifted one year away from really emerging. Brianna Boldon: I think that’s the race. Bolt and in that event for anybody to really bother Gatlin on the outside. With no Asafa and no him—especially if he goes in there in Blake, I don’t think any of the Jamaicans are decent form with rounds. ready to step up and beat a healthy Gatlin I think maybe the 400 and the About The 100 Hurdles… just yet. LaShawn Merritt/Kirani James battle is Ato Boldon says he’s about as excited for T&FN: Might the 200 tip the U.S./Jamaica a lot more interesting (see p. 47). the women’s short hurdle race as any other sprint war towards the Islanders? T&FN: On the women’s side, can anyone in Moscow. Why? Boldon: I wouldn’t be surprised to see touch Shelly-Ann Fraser- “I spoke to in Europe and Pryce in the 100? she was very honest in an interview we did Boldon: Blessing for Inside Athletics. She said, ‘Look, I’m glad The 2 Versions Of Okagbare. I think that’s I already have my World and Olympic titles “This is the first year I’ve been in Europe this much the athlete I am most because I don’t know if I’m going to be ready, since I’ve been a broadcaster and being on the circuit intrigued by this year. I given my injuries this year, to deal with has given me a chance to kind of shadow Bolt and get think she’ll leave Moscow Brianna Rollins.’ a sense of just what the demands on his time are. with three medals if she “I was looking to see what Rollins’ team “I think I understand last year even though last decides to do all three. was going to do post-U.S. Nationals and I said year I sort of figured it out by guess. I figured last year And I think the long to everybody, ‘If she goes to Europe and tries that everybody was writing him off too soon. He’s jump medal is probably to run every single race it’s going to ruin her such a good championships performer and he always the most assured because for Worlds, but if she goes home, recuperates, figures it out. I don’t think there are trains a little bit, takes some time off, I don’t “Being over here and being able to see it now, I realize three people who are see how that World Record survives. why he’s able to figure it out when the championships going to outjump her. “Assuming she doesn’t run into crazy come around. What happens is when Bolt is going In the 100, if you’ve headwinds in Moscow and it’s not 50 degrees, through his so-called regular season, his training is, I been watching her, she so far I think she has done the right things. VICTOR SAILER/PHOTO RUN think, somewhat erratic because he has to make these almost had a 10.75 PR but She has stayed home. appearances and he has these commitments to sponsors the wind was just over “When Sally Pearson is running 12.7 just and various people who have demands on his time. It’s at Pre. She lost to Shelly- 30 days before the World Championships, a given that he’s got to do this and, yeah, he’ll travel Ann Fraser-Pryce by a it’s very possible she doesn’t medal. The U.S. and, yeah, he’ll train and, yeah, he’ll travel. hundredth of a second hurdlers are not over-raced. Queen Harrison “The reason why a different Bolt shows up to a the last time they raced. stayed home, Nia Ali has stayed home. Dawn champs is because leading up to a championships, on I think that people Harper is doing her usual—that is running a calendar they block time out and for the first time may be overlooking her. herself into championship form, as is the norm all season Bolt gets to have continuity in his training. Maybe some aren’t but with Bobby Kersee athletes. I think that’s why Bolt can look so different between I’m very high on Blessing. “The U.S. could sweep that event very, championships versus a Diamond League race.” I had her 3rd in the very easily.” Olympic final last year

The Bible Of The Sport September 2013 — 47 Boldon with That’s going to be a nice training Boldon — continued group: Jeter, Gardner and Blessing a mike is Okagbare. I think those three will Rollins I had making the Olympic team in 3rd, benefit from training next to each now a I had making the Olympic other. familiar team last year, and Kimberlyn Duncan. T&FN: Assuming they all get along. I was one year off on all three of them; I That has to be a challenge in training sight am anticipating that I was one year off on groups loaded with stars. Blessing as well. Boldon: Well, they may not get Her [list positions] at 100, 200 and along but just think of the things that they bring to the table. You have Blessing who has maybe the best “Blessing Okagbare. I think finish in the business, I think. that’s the athlete I am most You have Jeter who is as powerful intrigued by. I think she’ll leave a sprinter as there is, and you have English, who is sort of this waify Moscow with 3 medals.” character on the track who is the new upstart. I’d love to watch those have gone a little bit unnoticed. The reality is three practice. that that combination has not been done in a T&FN: I wouldn’t expect Gardner very, very long time. to be intimidated. She just exudes “I’m T&FN: Carmelita Jeter is back after tearing getting to that finish line first.” her quad in Shanghai in May. Do you think the Boldon: English is not afraid of defending world champion can contend? anything and I think that’s why I Boldon: I don’t know. It’s hard to bet on an like her. Think of it: most sprinters over-30 sprinter having to deal with the likes run from the 400. English, she likes of Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Okagbare, running the 4x4. That’s rare. and every now and then someone else. Look T&FN: Finally, the women’s 200. at Murielle Ahouré, who just ran 10.91—sort After getting her Olympic gold Allyson of eye-raising. Felix started slowly this year. Do you I think Jeter is a threat for the podium; I think she’ll round into form or could just don’t think she’s a threat for the top of she be upset? the podium. Boldon: Going into London I T&FN: Do you think English Gardner’s felt that Allyson was the safest bet ankle injury will be a challenge for the new U.S. in any sprint event. I was one of the

champion? few who knew Veronica Campbell- KIR B Y LEE/I M A G E OF SPORT Boldon: I’ve talked to her on a regular basis. Brown wasn’t getting a medal in the The ankle is a non-issue as long as she’s not 200. I also thought she wasn’t getting a medal and two-time Olympic champion at 100 sort going around a turn. What’s more of an issue in the 100 either and she got a bronze [laughs]. of piqued my interest. is cleaning up her form a little bit and getting But, no, Allyson is not the lock that she was T&FN: Do the Gay and Powell doping positives back to some training because she’s had a very last year. I think Kimberlyn Duncan has a shot and ’s injury absence leave the U.S. and long collegiate season. against Allyson. Blessing Okagbare has a shot Jamaica men’s 4x1 teams evenly matched or is it I certainly know that in that situation you against Allyson, and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce just a matter for Jamaica of putting Bolt on anchor have to go back and do work that you feel like could win the whole thing. and “no problem, mon”? you’ve gone over already in terms of getting I spoke to Shelly-Ann earlier this year and Boldon: Without Blake and Asafa I think your sharpness back and getting your strength that silver in London has changed her whole the Jamaican team comes a little bit closer back back leading up to a championships. outlook. She used to hate the 200; now she’s down to earth but the U.S team with no Gay So it’s not going to be easy work for her sort of embracing it. She told me that she and with a Gatlin who I don’t think is going but she understands and certainly actually thought she could be better at 200m to be back to where he was last year—I think understands how to do it. She’s already gone than she is at 100. Jamaica’s still pretty comfortably ahead. to John [as her new pro coach]. That coming from a past world champion And like you said, if Bolt anchors forget about it. Nesta Carter just ran 9.87. a little bit and he wasn’t able to reel him back in. A relay team with Nesta Carter The James/Merritt 400 Clash So I make Kirani a slight favorite but I think that’s and Usain Bolt and any two other Ato Boldon is fired up about the men’s 400, one of the best matchups. Jamaicans isn’t beatable at Worlds with Kirani James and LaShawn Merritt continuing “I love the fact that, unlike in other events, unless they make a fatal mistake. their rivalry. Who’s his pick in a series that James those guys line up it seems like every Diamond T&FN: You favored the U.S. currently leads 5–2? League meet. women’s 4x1 even before Simpson’s “I like Kirani. Put it this way: I feel like LaShawn “I have no doubt that LaShawn’s going to run removal from the picture. Nothing could run almost a perfect race and still lose if faster but I also think Kirani will too. I think both has changed, has it? Kirani runs a near-perfect race. of them are ready to run something in the mid- Boldon: No, and Jeter looks “I feel that Kirani has a slightly better finish right 43s, which would certainly be personal bests for like she’s back so that’s kind of now and they’re so even that the person with the both of them. bad news for everybody else. better final 100 will win. So far Kirani hasn’t shown “One of T&FN’s lists that I love is the Best-Ever I imagine the U.S. will run me that if he comes off the turn ahead anybody is Marks-For-Place. It’s going to one of those where Gardner, Allyson, Jeter—and I’m able to pass him. He simply does not give up leads. somebody may run the all-time best for 2nd place not sure who else will get the call “When he lost the one meeting between them [currently Butch Reynolds’ 43.91 from the ’96 this year. It might be Octavious that he did this year at Pre, he let LaShawn get away Olympic Trials].” Freeman. That U.S. team is too strong.

48 — September 2013 Track & Field News