Bolt will win in Rio – Mothersill

Cydonie Mothersill, the retired Cayman Islands sprinter, says Usain Bolt will win at this summer's Olympic Games.

Mothersill, the meet director of last weekend's Cayman Invitational, described the tall Jamaican as a champion who always shows up. In addition, she said she understood his disappointment with his performance in the 100 metres at her meet.

In reviewing Bolt's winning run of 10.05 seconds, Mothersill said: "As a former athlete, I know when you're preparing for something and it doesn't happen, nobody can be as disappointed as you because you know the hard work you've put in."

Bolt had targeted a time below 10 seconds for his first race since the World Championships in Beijing, China, last August.

"With that being said, it's the first race of the season," she explained.

"It's quite early," continued the 2010 Commonwealth Games 200-metre champion, "and I'm quite sure that he will get whatever he needs to get in order.

"I think he's going to win in Rio, so I think it's too early to say that it's not going to be okay," she predicted.

Speaking just after the Invitational ended, she foresaw a fine display by Bolt at the Jamaica National Senior Championships, which begins on June 30.

PUBLIC EXPECTATIONS

"He's a champion," she asserted. "He always shows up."

The Jamaica-born Mothersill, who won a bronze in the 200m at the 2001 World Championships, knows that Bolt labours under the weight of public expectations.

"As an athlete, you know what you are prepared for, and the general public can get a little jumpy as to what they think, and he's going to have bad days, but he'll have good days when it counts, she explained."

In the past when the Jamaican superstar has opened his 100-metre account in May, he has generally run faster times than logged in his easy weekend win in Cayman.

He clocked 9.86, 9.91, 10.04 and 10.09 seconds, respectively, at meets in Daegu, Rome, Ostrava and Cayman in season-opening 100-metre races in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013.