Legendary Olympian Thompson says Bolt needs to win mental games first

London, July 14(ANI): Daley Thompson, who is known as one of Britain's greatest Olympian ever, has advised Jamaican sprinter and Olympic champion Usain Bolt to overcome the mental games first, and then think of a gold medal.

Thompson is one of very few athletes in history who knows how does it feels when the whole world is expecting you to win at Olympics, as for seven years in the 1980s he went unbeaten in the decathlon.

"The pressure of expectation lifts and stimulates a champion performer the closer they get to a big event. Most people cannot think of anything worse because it is stressful, really stressful, and most would rather not be in that position," The Daily Mirror quoted Thompson, as saying.

"But I loved it and looked forward to it because that was my happy place. I couldn't think of anything better than having to deliver at the Olympics," he added.

Bolt has been struggling later with a tight hamstring, and had lost his last two races to training partner Yohan Blake during the Jamaican Olympic trials.

Thompson insists Bolt needs to get his head right or he wont be able to repeat his Beijing 2008 heroics, and doesn't believes shortage of confidence could be a possible reason behind Bolt not performing to his level lately.

"Don't be silly. How does Bolt deal with it? He's got to get back to what I call the happy place. He has a lot to get straight in his mind. Clearly he's not at his best, because at his best he wins at a canter, Thompson said.

"He has to get back to being the guy he was. He doesn't need to do anything new, just get his head right. As things stand, he doesn't look like the bloke he was two years ago," he added. (ANI)