Powell happy not to be Beijing favourite

Jamaican sprinter Asafa Powell said yesterday he was pleased he was no longer the favourite for the 100 metres at the Beijing Olympics.

Powell, who runs in today's Golden Gala in Rome as part of his preparations for next month's Games, first watched compatriot Usain Bolt steal his world record in May when he ran 9.72 seconds.

World champion Tyson Gay then managed 9.68 at the American Olympic trials last month, the fastest 100m of all time, but was deprived of the record because of excessive wind assistance.

"I think it is always better not to have all that pressure on your back," Powell told a news conference.

"This year for the first time all eyes will be on Bolt and Gay. Definitely after the disappointments of recent years when I was favourite, I prefer this sort of situation."

Powell took bronze behind winner Gay at last year's world championships in Osaka but remains confident for Beijing.

"I am not thinking about Bolt or Gay. If I run like I know I can, I shouldn't fear anyone," added Powell, who will not have either rival for company today.

The Golden Gala will provide some mouthwatering head-to-head battles, however, especially in the women's high jump.

Croatia's world champion Blanka Vlasic comes up against home hope Antonietta Di Martino, joint second in Osaka last year.

"I am ready to beat all my opponents, including the unbeatable Vlasic," Di Martino joked, while also staying humble.

"In Beijing I would be happy to win a medal of any colour."

In another top rematch, Jeremy Wariner and LaShawn Merritt line up in the men's 400m just a week after Merritt beat the Olympic and world champion in the US trials for Beijing.

Double amputee Oscar Pistorius will also be in focus. The South African 400m runner, cleared to compete with able-bodied athletes by the Court of Arbitration for Sport in May, has little time left to reach the Beijing qualifying mark of 45.55.

"I hope to do the minimum time tomorrow night here in Rome, which I consider as a bit like my second home," said Pistorius, who has received huge support from a sympathetic Italian public.

"I lost at least a month, a month and a half of training (because of the CAS hearing) but I don't think I've wasted time because I hope that my battle has helped all disabled people."