Bolt plays down ankle injury setback

By Kayon Raynor

Two-time reigning Olympic 100m and 200m gold medallist Usain Bolt is not concerned about an ankle niggle which has ruled him out of background training for two weeks as he prepares for an assault on the Rio Olympics set for August 5 to 21.

"No, it's just been two weeks," the 100m and 200m world record holder responded to RJR Sports as to whether he was concerned about the number of training days missed because of an ankle niggle. 

"I've been in worse situations, I must say..., and I know it's going to be twice a day training now, leading up to the Olympics and I need to get back into shape so I can actually get some races in before the Olympics, so I’m not worried," said Bolt, who collected a sixth RJR Sports Foundation National Sportsman of the Year award Friday night.

The lanky sprinter had to recover from a pelvis problem and poor form to beat American Justin Gatlin to win the sprint double at the Beijing World Championships in August.

Although he confessed that his left ankle is till "a little sore", the 6-time Olympic gold medallist remains confident he will recover in time to do well at the Olympics which is 202 days away.

"I have a great coach (Glen Mills) and the coach is always a positive person and he always knows how to adjust my (training) programme, so I’m sure he'll figure out a way to get it done." 

The 29-year-old says he's gradually working to bet back into the full training as soon as the ankle can take more pressure.

"...Just been doing a little bit of work at home, but next week when I start doing swimming pool work and then I’ll be going off to Germany to check in with my doctor and then in February I’ll start back full training," Bolt reasoned.

"So right now, I'm kind of on pause, but by next week I will be back, not in full swing, but I will be doing much more work," said the poster boy of global athletics.