Berlin (AP) – For sprint Olympic champion Lamont Marcell Jacobs, even Usain Bolt’s almost 13-year-old 100-meter world record is a tangible goal.
“Nothing is unattainable. My trainer can probably say better than I how fast I can run. I like the thought: There is no limit,” said the 27-year-old Italian to the “Welt am Sonntag” in an interview.
Jacobs is the European record holder with his 9.80 seconds from Tokyo, while Jamaican Bolt sprinted to the world record in 9.58 seconds at the 2009 Berlin World Championships in Athletics. “Ever since I was a kid, I’ve been inspired by Usain Bolt. I’ve dreamed of one day being like him,” said Jacobs, who was born in Texas to an Italian mother and American father.
“For me, Bolt has always been the landmark,” said Jacobs, who won the 60m sprint at the Istaf Indoor. “He’s the greatest sprinter of all time. I didn’t even do a tenth of what he did.” Nevertheless, he could also shape an era. “In terms of further victories, I hope so, of course,” emphasized Jacobs, who also won relay gold with Italy in Tokyo. “However, Bolt started racing and winning at a much younger age. I started as a long jumper.”
With Olympic gold, he has fulfilled his first dream – and a second one is also set to become reality: “My dream of space is alive, even though I’m afraid of flying.”