Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt poses next to a Ferrari "458 Italia" model during a visit to the Ferrari private track in Fiorano. (Photo : Reuters)
Track and field star Usain Bolt is set to prove critics wrong as he prepares for the Men's 100-meter preliminaries on Aug. 4.
According to Now Magazine, Bolt is planning to hold a celebratory party if he wins the men's 100-meter even on Sunday, and has even invited Prince Harry. Bolt and the prince previously met during Harry's trip to Jamaica during his Diamond Jubilee tour of South America and the Caribbean earlier this year.
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Bolt's party could be in danger as some bookies are favoring fellow Jamaican Yohan Blake to dethrone Bolt as the 100-meter Olympic champion. Blake defeated Bolt in both 100-meter and 200-meter races during the Jamaican Olympic trials, and posted the fastest time at 100-meters with 9.75 seconds.
The potential of Blake defeating Bolt might not be an issue for the world's fastest man. Bolt has further invited Prince Harry's brother William and his wife Kate Middleton to his celebration party.
"I try not to think about that rivalry. I just focus on me and what I have to do," Blake said. "For me, I keep it simple. I want to beat those guys but it's all about the execution."
At the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics, Bolt set three world records, and analysts don't expect the records to be broken with Blake.
Three-time world champion Tyson Gay of Team USA is preparing for redemption after Bolt broke Gay's 100-meter record of 9.69 seconds.
"There's a lot of pressure, I'm not going to lie," Gay said at a news conference. "I really want to redeem myself."
The American sprinter did not compete at the 2008 Olympics due to an injured hamstring during the US Olympic trials. His main focus is also beating Bolt, rather than defeating current world champion Blake.
"He's the only one who's been where we've never been," said Gay, who's also running the 200 meters. "He's still one of the favorites. He knows what it takes."
Gay is currently third favorite to win the men's 100-meter race, behind Blake as Bolt is favorite to win.
Usain Bolt's Olympic Schedule:
100-Meter
Men's 100-meter Preliminaries: August 4, 5 a.m. EST
Men's 100-meter Round 1: August 4, 7:30 a.m. EST
Men's 100-meter Semifinals: August 5, 2:45 p.m. EST
Men's 100-meter Final: August 5, 4:50 p.m. EST
200-Meter
Men's 200-meter Round 1: August 7, 3:50 p.m. EST
Men's 200-meter Semifinals: August 8, 3:10 p.m. EST
Men's 200-meter Final: August 9, 3:55 p.m. EST
4x100-Meter Relay
Men's 4x100-meter Relay Round 1: - August 10, 2:45 p.m. EST
Men's 4x100-meter Relay Final: - August 11, 4 p.m. EST
The London 2012 Summer Olympics can be seen on the networks of NBC Universal.
