Usain Bolt might seem like the most happy-go-lucky guy in the athletics world, but the Jamaican, who cruised to victory in the 200 meters, took some time off from the celebrations to express his disappointment and anger at comments made in the past by former U.S. athlete Carl Lewis.
Lewis had earlier stated his doubts about the drug-testing program in Jamaica, and how that might have helped the tiny country dominate sprinting on the world stage.
Bolt, clearly angered by the doubts created by Lewis, hit out at the American, after he was asked if he would be liked to be compared to the legendary Jesse Owens or Lewis. "I'm going to say something controversial right now," Bolt said. "Carl Lewis, I have no respect for him.
"The things he says about the track athletes is really downgrading for another athlete to say something like that. I think he's just looking for attention, really, because nobody really talks much about him.
"That was really sad for me when I heard the other day what he was saying. It was upsetting. I've lost all respect for him. All respect."
Asked which specific comments had caused Bolt to make the comments, the Jamaican said: "It was all about drugs. Talking about drugs. For me, an athlete out of the sport to be saying that, that was really upsetting for me. Really upsetting."
"To jump up and say something like that. As far as I'm concerned he's looking for attention. That's all."
Lewis had raised doubts about Jamaica's drug testing, speaking to Sports Illustrated in 2008, shortly after Bolt won the double in Beijing. "No one is accusing anyone," Lewis said. "But don't live by a different rule and expect the same kind of respect.
"No country has had that kind of dominance. I'm not saying they've done anything for certain. I don't know."
Bolt said it was the hard work and dedication that had turned Jamaican athletes into world beaters. "When people doubt us it's really hard, but we try our best to show the world we're running clean," the 25-year-old said. "We train really hard. Jamaica has proven that we are the greatest sprint country."
After successfully defending his 100 and 200 titles, Bolt admitted he would most probably not go to the Rio Olympics in 2016. "I think I've had my time. In life, anything is possible but that's going to be a hard reach."
