Tyson Gay the form sprinter as world titles loom

"I wanted to finish strong and stay healthy," said Gay, 30, who also set a world-leading 19.74sec when winning the 200m at the US national championships. "I'm feeling good and I think I have a good chance against anybody [in the worlds]."

Bolt, 26, meanwhile, said he has his sights set on further "dominating" the sport.

"I want to dominate sprinting until the Rio Games," the Jamaican said.

"To dominate the competition, remain the best despite all these young, ambitious sprinters appearing on the scene, all wanting to beat me.

"I remember asking [US track legend] Michael Johnson the year he retired from sport what he thought of his career. He explained to me his pride at having been able to dominate his sport all the way to the end. My objective is the same."

Bolt explained that a love of "competition" was key to his motivation.

"I still get just as much of a kick out of it. The more I run in competition, the more I want to surpass myself," he said.

"My challenge over the next three years will be to go right to the end of the Olympiad while remaining at the top.

"To achieve that, I'm going to have to maintain the same level of performance season after season. I'm ready for it though. I'm working towards that every single day."

Bolt said that with this season's world championships being held from August 10-18 in Moscow, competing in top-class races were essential "to find out where I'm at so as I can place myself in relation to the others and, most importantly, in relation to myself".

This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as: Gay keeps pressure on Bolt ahead of worlds

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