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Olympic champion Usain Bolt believes he can improve upon his 100metres world record time in 2009 as he bids to become a sporting "legend".

Bolt blew away the competition in Beijing last year to take gold in the 100 and 200m as well as helping Jamaica triumph in the 4x100m relay.

The 22-year-old recorded times of 9.69 seconds and 19.30secs in the individual sprints but, despite admitting he is still some way from peak condition, he is already hoping to do even better this season.

He clocked 9.93secs last month in his first 100m outing of the year and is heading to Britain to compete in a one-off 150m event in Manchester on May 17.

"I'm getting there, I'm probably about 60 per cent at the moment so I try not to think about it," he said.

"But if the competition is as strong as I think it is going to be then the 100m record could certainly come down," he said.

"I haven't thought about times but it will be a very interesting season.

"It will be a very interesting year, there have been a lot of good performances coming out of this season already.

"Hopefully when people come to the meetings they will know it is possible to break the world record. But my aim is always to be a champion, so that is more important than records."

He added: "Someone, a professor, asked me once what was my aim in track and field. I said it was to be a champion, an Olympic champion. Then he asked me 'And what after that? What would I go on to do?'

"I was lost for words and he said 'pick a goal that is really hard to do' so I said 'I'll work to be a legend of my sport' and that is what keeps me going."

Bolt will not get the chance to go up against controversial British sprinter Dwain Chambers in Manchester, with event organisers declining to extend an invite to the former drugs cheat.

Chambers declared his intention to beat Bolt earlier this year, revealing that he had bested him in training while in Jamaica two years ago.

Bolt declined to talk down Chambers' challenge and instead said he would be happy to race against the Belgrave Harrier at any meeting.

Asked if he could be a danger, Bolt said: "Yes, everybody is a threat. I don't want to treat anyone lightly if they are competitors. I think everyone fears me when I get on the track but you never know, it might just be their day.

"If he's in my races I have no problem with that. Anybody who is there in the line, I'm happy to race against them: that's my job.

"What he was talking about was in training, though," he added.

"A lot of guys can get beaten in training. I just do what my coach requires of me because it only matters when you get on the track.

"There are some people who talk a lot but I'm not worried about that. I just go to try and compete and win."

Sporting Life / Eurosport