KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC

TRIPLE OLYMPIC gold medallist Usain Bolt vows he will be ready for a stiff challenge from fellow Jamaican Asafa Powell and American Tyson Gay next year.

Gay, the 2007 double World sprint champion at Osaka, and Powell, the former 100 metre world record-holder, were upstaged by the younger Bolt this year.

Apart from setting a new mark in the 100m in May, Bolt went on to dominate the Olympic Games in the Chinese capital, Beijing, and reset the world record in the 100m and the 200m, while Powell and Gay flopped.

Powell however, earned a 4x100 metres relay gold, anchoring a Jamaica quartet that also included Bolt to a world record, but Gay bowed out with injury.

"Athletes will be gunning for me, especially Asafa and Tyson Gay, who is going to come back after injury," Bolt said. "It's going to be hard to stay on top, but I am looking forward to the challenges.

"It's going to be an exciting year for me because I like the challenges. Sometimes it's more fun, especially for the people who will be enjoying it."

A point to prove

Bolt described Gay as a great athlete and hopes the American returns to top form next year because he has a point to prove.

"I am going out there to show him that while he may train hard to be one of the best sprinters, I train harder," Bolt said. "I am going out there to show that I work hard to be on top and I am going to stay on top."

Last May, Bolt defeated Gay in New York and set the 100m world record of 9.72. He dropped that mark to 9.69 in Beijing.