ZURICH: American Maurice Greene confidently predicted on Thursday that he will retain his Olympic 100m sprint crown and bring gold home from Athens.
“Do I need another gold? I wouldn't say I necessarily need it but I'm going to get it,” Greene said ahead of yesterday's Zurich Golden League meeting, where he will finalise preparations for the Games.
Greene has suffered defeats in his two races on European soil in the past two weeks after being beaten by Portugal's Francis Obikwelu in the Paris Golden League meeting and by Jamaican Asafa Powell in London.
The Olympic champion blamed both defeats on poor starts and said he is ready to return to winning ways in Zurich after curing problems with specific training over the past week.
“I have a little problem I have to work out and this race will tell me if I have worked those problems out,” said Greene.
“I'm working on the start of my race and I think we are getting close to it.
“I need a lot of improvement on my start. It needs to be efficient, which it hasn't been.
“The strongest part of my race is the middle and the end and it is getting to that part that has been the problem.
“I haven't been able to come out of the blocks and run straight.
“I think I am close (to getting the start right) now. We'll see tomorrow night.” – Reuters
“Do I need another gold? I wouldn't say I necessarily need it but I'm going to get it,” Greene said ahead of yesterday's Zurich Golden League meeting, where he will finalise preparations for the Games.
Limited time offer:
Just RM5 per month.
