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Bolt places 400m mission on hold
Usain Bolt delays plans to take on Michael Johnson's 400m world record
• Sprinter wants to try the 400m after 2012 Olympics
• Bolt aiming to beat Johnson's 300m record in Ostrava
Usain Bolt's plans to better Michael Johnson's 400m world record are likely to go on hold until after the London Olympic Games in 2012. The sprinter will compete over 300m in the Czech Republic on 27 May, but the Jamaican will delay a bid to dip below Johnson's world record of 43.18 seconds until at least 2013.
"I think the 400m is somewhere in the future but hopefully after 2012," said Bolt, who will bid to take Johnson's 300m best at the Golden Spike meeting in Ostrava.
The 100m and 200m world record holder often begins his season running 400m races to build up his fitness, and has a three-year-old personal best of 45.28secs. However, he has not taken the event seriously so far. He is likely to aim to defend his 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay Olympic titles before turning his attentions to Johnson's record.
"The 400m is painful," said Bolt, who will earn $30,000 (£26,000) if he beats Johnson's 300m world record of 30.85sec, set at altitude in Pretoria 10 years ago.
Bolt, who will also appear at the IAAF Diamond League meetings in New York on 12 June and Paris on 16 July, revealed his preparations for the summer are progressing satisfactorily.
"Training is going well," he said. "I am getting ready for the summer season. My early races in Jamaica have been good so I think I am where I need to be at this time of year. There is still a lot of work to be done in the next two months but I am getting there."
Of his targets in a year without any global championships, Bolt added: "I just want to keep winning and stay injury-free."
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World record holder Usain Bolt set to race over 300m at meeting in May
• First time in competition over the distance for Jamaican
• Current 300m world record held by Michael Johnson
Usain Bolt, the world 100m and 200m record holder, will move up in distance to 300m at the Golden Spike meeting in Ostrava in the Czech Republic on 27 May.
It will be the first time the Jamaican has competed over the distance.
Bolt, who will making his fourth appearance at the meeting, said: "I have done some 300's in training so am used to the distance but this will be my first time to race it. If the weather is good I hope to run a fast time."
Bolt is expected to challenge the world's best performance of 30.85 seconds set by Michael Johnson 10 years ago at altitude in Pretoria.
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