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 "I felt like I'd retired, the way people were talking about
Justin Gatlin," Bolt said with a laugh on Tuesday at the launch of
Puma's Ignite line of running shoes. "I found it to be funny. Like
wow, I'm one season out and it's like I retired."
Bolt proclaimed himself fit for the new season, which peaks at the
Aug. 22-30 world championships in Beijing on the way to the 2016 Rio
Olympics, and said he hoped to resume his record-setting ways.
A relaxed Bolt, who has ruled the 100 and 200 meters in the Olympics
since 2008 and holds both world records, said Gatlin just kept his
seat warm.
"Justin Gatlin did well, he kept the sport exciting," the Jamaican
said. "He kept people wanting to see us compete. For me it's OK, and
I'm always looking forward to competition."
 Bolt, 28, is scheduled to open his 2015 campaign with a 400 meters
in Jamaica at Saturday's Camperdown Classic, but did not sound keen.
"I'm trying to get out of it," said Bolt, who finds the 400 to be a
chore to run.
Bolt wants to focus on the 100 and 200.
"One of my biggest goals is to go sub-19," Bolt said about the 200
meters and his world record of 19.19 seconds. "That's one thing I
want to accomplish before I retire so I'm pushing myself. I'm
working hard and we'll see what happens."
Bolt, who also added relay gold to his 100 and 200 Olympic sweeps in
Beijing and London, is aiming for a mind-boggling triple Olympic
triple.
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"Just adding to my accolades," he said. "That's the key thing. You
can only keep making yourself greater by adding great moments."
Bolt would not venture to rank himself among the greatest athletes
over the decades including Muhammad Ali, Michael Jordan and Michael
Phelps.
"When you've done great things, then people say he's one of the
greatest. All you can do is add to your greatness until it's time to
leave the sport."
Bolt said his career finish line would come at the 2017 worlds.
"They convinced me to go one more year but they won't convince me to
do any more," said Bolt. "Definitely in 2017 I'll stop."
(Editing by Frank Pingue)
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