Usain Bolt has been tipped to extend his domination of sprinting events by adding the 400 metres to his collection of world records.
Derek Redmond, who struck 4x400m gold at the 1991 World Championships, believes the Jamaican superstar - who already holds the world record and the Olympic and world titles at 100 and 200m, could finish first over all three distances at the London Olympics in 2012. Redmond, speaking at the Youth Sport Trust Young Ambassador Conference, believes Michael Johnson's world record mark of 43.18 seconds for the 400m will also fall.
"My prediction for Usain Bolt is that he will become the first person to hold world records at 100m, 200m and 400m at the same time," he said. "He started life as a 400m runner and I heard a rumour that his people wanted to find out what the timetable would be for 2012 so that he could have a chance of doing all three events."
Redmond added: "Whether he will or not remains to be seen, but I think he will start running 400m and if he gets it right he will set the world record for that as well.
"He could manage all three at a major championships. It would be tough but people have done the 800m and 1500m before, as well as the 400m and 800m. It can be done depending on the timetable, but it certainly won't be easy.
"If anyone can do it, it's him, but so much would depend on whether the format of 2012 would allow him to do it."
Redmond believes it is only a matter of time before Bolt betters the 9.58secs record he set for the 100m at the World Championships in Berlin last month.
"Bolt is awesome, a phenomenon. He's so relaxed and natural," he said.
"He's unbelievable and every time he steps onto the track you don't know what he's going to do. People expect him to break world records each time.
"I think he can run 9.55 because he still looks likes he's easing up with 10 or so metres to go. There's definitely more to come."
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