'Bolt won't showboat on me!'

glimpse_2 · February 2, 2009, 6:30am

Dwain Chambers confident of challenging Usain Bolt

It takes a brave man to predict he can challenge triple world record-holder Usain Bolt but Dwain Chambers is feeling pretty emboldened by his early-season form.

By Simon Hart
Last Updated: 9:54PM GMT 01 Feb 2009

A 60 metres personal best of 6.52sec at the Birmingham Games on Saturday confirmed that, at the age of 30, he is quicker than ever and he is far from intimidated at the prospect of taking on his old training partner at the World Championships in Berlin this summer.

“He’s the man to beat and if I can get to that line before him, the job’s done,” said the Londoner. “He won’t be showboating with me on his tail.”

According to athletics statisticians, Chambers’ time on Saturday, which surpassed his previous best of 6.54sec set in Valencia last year when he won a silver medal at the World Indoor Championships, would equate to 9.85sec over 100 metres.

If the extrapolation is correct, it would have been fast enough to take the silver at the Beijing Olympics and break the European record into the bargain.

All academic, or course, but it has started Chambers thinking, and after five years of fielding questions about his drug-tainted past it is the future that now preoccupies him. Can he really give Bolt a run for his money?

"

I beat him a few times in training but he would never admit that," he said. “That’s something I’ve got up my sleeve. I know him. But then again, that was a few years ago and he’s gone way up the ladder and I’ve got a lot of catching up to do. But I’m patient about it and I know that every man has his day.”

Chambers is banned by Europe’s main event promoters and missed out on Saturday’s Aviva International in Glasgow but he is determined to make the most of what few racing opportunities come his way.

“I’m like a hungry dog that doesn’t get fed very often, so when I get my Pedigree Chum I’m going to trowel it down,” he said. “My mind is hungry and I just know that when I get my opportunities I will be out to make maximum impact.”

In Chambers’ absence from Glasgow, Craig Pickering won the 60m in an impressive 6.57sec, setting up an intriguing battle when the pair go head to head at the UK trials for the European Indoor Championships later this month.

But the star of the Scottish meeting was Mo Farah, who set a British record of 7min 40.99sec in the 3,000m – 0.10sec inside John Mayock’s six-year-old mark.

Beating someone in training and competing against them in competition is two entirely different things in my opinion. If the above statement is what Dwain uses to reassure himself in regards to his chances of being competitive with Bolt, he’d probably have a better chance of trying to ice skate up a hill!!

mortac8 · February 2, 2009, 7:47am

Bolt won’t showboat on you, Dwain, because you won’t be in the finals.

RandyG · February 2, 2009, 6:23pm

This is one way to keep yourself relevant…

Treble · February 3, 2009, 12:45pm

Do you all really believe Chambers won’t be a factor in the 100m? I think he can make the final of a major 100m.

I also don’t equate 6.52 to 9.85.

Dazed · February 4, 2009, 7:24pm

Dwain would need to average 10m splits of 0.8325s for the last 40m for those stats to work. I’d be surprised if he has ever hit that speed for a single split.

rainy.here · February 4, 2009, 9:24pm

6.52 could be a 9.85 with a tailwind.

Charlie_Francis · February 4, 2009, 9:42pm

6.52 for a strong accelerator is about 9.97.
For a strong finisher 6.50=9.93. Charles Univ put it at 6.48 for 9.93

mortac8 · February 4, 2009, 10:07pm

The title of this thread gets me every time. Usually when people talk crap they end up eating it.

glimpse_2 · February 5, 2009, 7:54am

lol so true!!!

Charlie_Francis · February 5, 2009, 10:41am

But, in fairness, I can honestly say Bolt won’t showboat on me either! (He’d have to hunt me down to find me first!)

ESTI · February 5, 2009, 1:04pm

Hiding like your days at Standford practice for 400s?

Charlie_Francis · February 5, 2009, 1:23pm

Same concept but I need a thicker tree to hide behind now!

Stefanie · February 5, 2009, 6:12pm

Charlie, start a training journal with us!

DMA · February 5, 2009, 6:36pm

He can come and showboat me anytime, as can Asafa and their coach.

Will even give them the address of the track and my house. As long as they stay for dinner

Charlie_Francis · February 5, 2009, 9:27pm

But then I’d have to train!

Stefanie · February 6, 2009, 2:48am

What was I thinking …

Charlie_Francis · February 6, 2009, 10:45am

You mean it shows! Gee! I try to wear black at all times!

MSO · February 6, 2009, 11:57am

I think the basement video is a good start, but I’m waiting for the one that only uses a TV, a remote control, and a couch. And the only lifting involves the remote control, not the TV or the couch.

Charlie_Francis · February 6, 2009, 2:13pm

How did you know that was our next one? Have you been listening in?

Stefanie · February 6, 2009, 4:35pm

:o I don’t know how I always get in trouble for things I don’t say, it’s a gift.
Charlie I will tell you in person someday if it shows !!