Bolt faces showdown with Powell and Gay

Reuters

TOO EASY: Jamaica's Usain Bolt has come under fire for his celebrations after winning the men's 100 metres final at the Beijing Olympics.

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World record holder Usain Bolt, Asafa Powell and Tyson Gay spearhead one of the strongest 100-metre lineups assembled at a Golden League meeting when they clash in Brussels on Friday night (NZ time).

"I'm definitely going out there to compete at my best," Bolt told reporters when asked if he would be chasing the record of 9.69 seconds he set at last month's Beijing Olympics.

"I've already got the biggest thing there is but it would be good to go out a winner (in the season's final race)."

Bolt, who also won Olympic gold in the 200 metres and the 4x100 relay, takes on American world champion Gay and fellow Jamaican Powell who ran the joint second-fastest 100 metres of all time in Lausanne on Tuesday.

Powell, who was fifth in Beijing, clocked 9.72 in Switzerland to match Bolt's old world record set in New York in May.

"I'm very happy after all I've been through this year," Powell said.

Bolt did not compete in the 100 metres in Lausanne, easing up well before the finish in the 200 to record a time of 19.63, outside his world record of 19.30.

Last week he won the 100 metres in 9.83 seconds at the Golden League meeting in Zurich.

"Usain Bolt we all know is on fire right now," said Gay of Friday's race at the 50,000-capacity King Baudouin stadium.

The American failed to reach the final in Beijing because of a hamstring injury.

"I don't think I am as sharp right now, considering my leg, to be very competitive with the other two guys," said Gay.

-Reuters