Record-holder Usain Bolt 'happy' to be back for Penn Relays

Usain Bolt last ran at the Penn Relays as a promising junior runner from Jamaica. He will return to the carnival Saturday as an international superstar.

Bolt, a three-time Olympic gold medalist and the world record holder for 100 and 200 meters, will race for Jamaica in the 4x100-meter relay at the "USA vs. the World" competition Saturday at Franklin Field.

Bolt, who can command a six-figure appearance fee, is running at the relays for free.

"I told my coach, we decided we really needed to come to the Penn Relays this year," Bolt said today at a Center City news conference. "So we decided that it's OK. I like to run the relays with my team. For me, it was just enjoyable, a very fun moment when my coach told me we're going to the Penn Relays. I was happy to come here."

This will be Bolt's first competitive appearance of 2010. He said he will run his first solo race, at 200 meters, next week in Jamaica.

"I think it's to get sharp leading up to next week," he said. "Plus, I haven't been to Penn in a while, so I'm really looking forward to this.

"It's going to be interesting because there's going to be a lot of Jamaicans in the crowd. There are going to be a lot of fans. I remember this from my schoolboy days . . ."

Bolt ran at the Penn Relays every year from 2001 to 2005, starting as a young student at William Knibb High School.

Asked his memories of the carnival, Bolt, wearing a black shirt, black pants, and a black New York Yankees cap with a black "NY" script, said the cold weather was the first thing that came into his mind.

But he also remembered the crowd, and looks forward to Saturday when around 52,000 people will be in the sold out stadium.

"Most of the Jamaicans usually sit on the homestretch," he said. "But for me, the most interesting thing, what I've always remembered, was the sound they make when somebody is catching somebody on the homestretch. It's just wonderful, a great experience."

Bolt, who broke his own world records for 100 and 200 last summer at the World Track and Field Championships, said he would be taking it easy this year, training and running just to "stay on beat" for more intensive preparations next year leading up to the 2012 London Olympics.

Bolt said he won't be doing any sightseeing in Philadelphia, preparing to stay indoors – especially if it's cold – going on Facebook and listening to music on his laptop.

But once Saturday arrives, he'll be excited to run.

"It's always a big event for everybody from Jamaica and the U.S.," he said. "So definitely, it's going to be big and I'm really looking forward to it. I know most of the guys on the team, so we get along pretty well, especially with the 4x1. It's almost like bragging rights, just to mess with each other. It's all in fun.

"I remember this from my schoolboy days. The atmosphere was wonderful then. So I just can't imagine now running in front of them after being Olympic and world champion. So it should be very interesting."