Christian Coleman dismisses Usain Bolt comparisons as sprint ace eyes Tokyo 2020 100m gold
TOP GUN Christian Coleman does not want comparisons with athletics superstar Usain Bolt – in fact he wants to create his own stunning legacy.
The world’s fastest man over the past three seasons has three specific targets over the next 12 months.
The first is to become world 100m champion in Doha on September 28.
Then he wants to become an athletics legend by winning Olympic gold at Tokyo 2020.
And if possible, he’d like to get closer to Bolt’s 2009 world record of 9.58 seconds.
The American, a 100m world silver medallist at London 2017, told SunSport: “I don’t want to be Usain Bolt. I don’t want to be anybody else.
“I want to be the best version of Christian Coleman that I can.
“If you like that, then you do. If you don’t, you don’t. You cannot satisfy everybody.
“When I look back at my career, I want to say I accomplished certain things and ran certain times.
“So that reporters will ask the young people coming into the sport: ‘You can be the next Christian Coleman.’ I want to set my own legacy. Be my own person.
“I feel I’m a really good competitor. I have the talent to come away with the gold medals. I feel I have the mindset and mental stability to be able to do it.”
Coleman, who has topped the IAAF speed lists since summer 2017, will race at Sunday’s Diamond League meeting in Birmingham.
'ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE'
In the absence of the retired Bolt, the 23-year-old is best placed to fill the void and become the next big thing in track-and-field.
The Atlanta-born star’s personal best is 9.79sec but he reckons he is nowhere near his top speed yet.
Asked about whether a 100m world record is achievable one day, Coleman replied: “I feel like anybody can. I feel like I can.
“I believe my talent is as good as anybody else in the world in the 100m.
“I’ll continue to work hard on the path I’m on, try to get better every single year, try to improve, always have the mindset of never being satisfied.
“I still don’t feel I’m at my peak yet. And I’ve a few more years ahead of me to get better.
“On a perfect day, perfect conditions, with a really good field, it’s hot outside, it’s a major championship, anything is possible in this sport.
“Ask anybody who has accomplished a world record of that type of magnitude – a ridiculous time, jump or throw – and they weren’t focused on accomplishing that. They just tried to win and put themselves in a good position.
“I’ve to focus on being the best version of me. And hopefully it will happen.”
Coleman is called Mr President by his uncle and cousins following his surprise election aged 11 to the student body president role in fifth grade in the US.
Sadly he competes in a sport which has been overshadowed over a succession of drugs scandals over the decades.
High-profile figures like Ben Johnson, Linford Christie, Tim Montgomery, Justin Gatlin, Dwain Chambers, Asafa Powell and Tyson Gay have all failed doping tests and served suspensions.
Yet Coleman believes TV audiences can TRUST what they see on the startline these days.
He added: “I can only talk on my behalf. And if you’re referring to me – ‘Can you believe what I’m doing in the sport? – then yes. That’s how I was raised.
“Work hard, rely on your talents and God-given ability. It wouldn’t feel right if I had to cheat or do anything malicious to anybody else to win.
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“The sport has cranked down on drug testing. We’ve to go on a website and tell people where we are at all times.
“They pop up and test me four, five, sometimes six times a month. I guess they’re doing the same with all the other athletes. Hopefully everybody is on the same level-playing field as I am.”
Tickets for the Müller Grand Prix Birmingham on Sunday are on sale at .