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Usain Bolt

KINGSTON. – Sprint superstar Usain Bolt is one of three Rio Olympic gold medalists leading a 59-strong Jamaican team named on Monday for next month’s Athletics World Championships in London.

Bolt has said he intends to run the 100m and the 4x100m relay at the worlds, his final event before retiring. He’s one of two reigning world champions, along with sprint hurdler Danielle Williams, who will be defending titles they won in China two years go.

Elaine Thompson, who won the Olympic Sprint double last year in Rio, and Omar McLeod – the first man for the Caribbean island to win Olympic 110m hurdles gold – are also in the team published by the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association.

The team also includes sprint hurdler Hansle Parchment, shot putter O’Dayne Richards and 400m runner Shericka Jackson – all individual medalists in Beijing two years ago.

Fedrick Dacres, the second ranked male discus thrower in the world, will attend his second World Championships.

Meanwhile, with eight Olympic gold medallists on its 132-member roster, the United States are ready to be the powerhouse team at next month’s athletics World Championships.

Triple jumper Christian Taylor, shot putters Ryan Crouser and Michelle Carter, long jumpers Tianna Bartoletta and Jeff Henderson, 400 metres hurdlers Dalilah Muhammad and Kerron Clement and 1,500m runner Matthew Centrowitz all were in the US squad announced on Monday for the August 4-13 championships in London.

“It looks entirely possible that Team USA could match its impressive Rio [Olympic] tally in August,” international athletics expert Mel Watman told Reuters after last month’s US championships.

The Americans won 32 medals at the Rio Games, 13 of them gold, and similar overall numbers are forecast for London. – AFP.