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Bolt was given a medical exemption by Jamaican officials to
compete at the Rio Games after he pulled a hamstring during the
Olympic trials and Gatlin wasted little opportunity in trying to
get under the 29-year-old's skin.
Gatlin said the six-time Olympic gold medalist had been given 'a
medical pass' to compete and Bolt said on Wednesday that had
only served to fuel his desire to shut the American up by
proving himself on the track.
"Yes definitely, I think they have not learned over the years
that the more you talk, the more I will want to beat you," Bolt
told Reuters on Wednesday.
"It's one of those things, but I'm looking forward to it, should
be exciting and they will feel my full wrath as always."
Bolt, who returned to action in the 200 meters at last month's
Diamond League meeting in London, said he felt he was in better
shape ahead of the opening race of his program on Aug. 13 -- the
100 meters -- than he was for last year's world championships in
Beijing.
"I'm feeling much more confident now," he added. "I'm much more
comfortable with where I'm at.
"I never try to predict times, because you never know what will
happen. But for me the shape I'm in, I'll say I'm in much better
shape, so I think 9.6 seconds definitely."
Bolt's world record for the 100 is 9.58 seconds. He ran 9.79 in
clinching his third world championships title last year in
Beijing.
As for his preferred 200, Bolt said he and coach Glen Mills had
been pleased with the work they had been doing on the bend after
some "rust" in London, when he ran 19.89.
"We've been doing a lot of work since I've been here, everything
has been going well, I've been feeling great and I have no
problem so I'm happy with the progress I'm making," he said.
"It was just rust for me, having not run the 200 in over a year
pretty much, but now I've familiarized myself back with the
work, and it's just about going out there and executing."
(Editing by Greg Stutchbury)
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