Asafa Powell on Wednesday was asked if he can beat American Justin Gatlin in Thursday’s Lausanne Diamond League.
Powell, the former world 100m record holder at 9.72 and 2nd fastest this year with 9.81, replied: “I don’t know who you guys think he (Gatlin) is, he is like the fifth fastest man in the world so I don’t know why you think he can’t be beaten.”
World record holder Usain Bolt 9.58, Tyson Gay and Yohan Blake 9.69 and Powell 9.72 have all ran fastest than Gatlin 9.74 in the past.
“I have been running quite well this season and running very fast so for tomorrow I expect to run fast just the same,” said Powell, who added “I want to surprise myself… I’m going out there to make everyone proud of me.”
On Thursday, Powell, Gay and Gatlin will clash in the biggest sprint showdown of 2015.