Award-winning Bolt enthusiastic about year ahead

Abu Dhabi: Usain Bolt, who won the Laureus Sportsman of the Year award for the second consecutive time, promised to win it again next year.

Speaking from Jamaica, where Bolt is training, the sprinter said: "I promise to win again next year as I look forward to an exciting Diamond League season."

Bolt had won three gold medals at the last year's track world championships and set world records in 100-metre and 200-metre races.

Asked what he is aiming for next, a smiling Bolt said: "Anything is possible. I just want to keep working hard and breaking records. That is always my aim."

Bolt also said that he values this award a lot because of what happened to him in April last year when he escaped from a car crash.

"For me it was even better because I had a car accident and bounced back and it shows me that with hard work and determination, anything is possible."

Bolt had lost control of his BMW M3 — a present given to him by his sponsors at Puma after his performances at the Beijing Olympics — after apparently speeding on a rain-slicked highway west of Kingston and skidded into a ditch. He had to be hospitalised.

Clear targets

However, Bolt is in control of his targets. "I am focusing on 2012 London Olympics and breaking more records. But I am not keen on running 400m hurdles," he said.

Elaborating on his decisions over the 400m hurdles, he remarked: "I know this distance [400 metres], but it's not for now — maybe after the Olympics. That [the Olympics] is my main aim right now. I don't think I'll be doing that [hurdles]. I can't stretch that far for fear of hurting my hamstring."

Bolt, who shaved off a staggering 0.11 seconds off his own 100m world record with a time of 9.58 seconds and posted a stunning 19.19 in the 200m, is keen to race to greater glory. "I want to keep winning, keep running and breaking records," he said.

Past winners