Anthony Foster, Freelance Writer

Canadian Olympic 100m gold medallist and former world record holder Donovan Bailey (left) and world 100m record holder Asafa Powell watch action at Boys and Girls Champs last Saturday. - Photo by Anthony Foster

CANADIAN OLYMPIC gold medallist and former world 100-metre record holder Donovan Bailey believes it would be easier for Asafa Powell to win Olympic gold if he only thinks about himself.

"If Asafa gets in and runs his race and does not worry about where he is - the Olympic Games, absolutely he will not lose," said Jamaica-born Bailey at last week's Boys and Girls National Championships at the National Stadium.

At the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Powell started favourite, but finished fifth in 9.91 seconds behind America's Justin Gatlin.

Powell, who holds the world 100m record of 9.74 seconds, was also a third-place finisher at last year's World Championships in Osaka, Japan, again falling to an American, Tyson Gay.

Quit worrying

But, Bailey, who was born in the parish of Manchester before migrating to Canada at the age of 13, also warned Powell about worrying about his opponents.

"You cannot go in and expect competition ... if you step into a race expecting competition, then you expect that there might be someone challenging you," said Bailey, who along with Trinidad and Tobago Olympic silver medallist Ato Boldon watched last week's Champs.

"So I think at the end of the day, what Asafa needs to do is to walk in knowing that he is the man ... don't even think about the other competitors."

Bailey, the world 100m champion in 1995, said after all is said and done, Powell should win this year's Olympic crown.

"I certainly expected him to be the Olympic champion ... I expect him to follow in the footsteps of Linford Christie (Olympic and World Championships gold medallist) and myself," added Bailey, who led Canada to the Olympic 4x100m title in 1996.

"Asafa has been the most dominant sprinter so I expect him to be a world champion next year as well."

Olympic record

Bailey said he is ready to hand over the Olympic Games record to Powell.

"I own the Olympic record now and I am ready to walk down and hand it to Asafa," said Bailey, whose 9.84-second run in Atlanta 12 years ago still stands.

"That would be my dream," added Bailey, whose time then was also a world record.

anthony.foster@gleanerjm.com