Sprinter Usain Bolt, the track and field star of the Beijing Olympics, last year will be appearing at the track and field 12th World Championships in Athletics in Berlin which begins this weekend.

Bolt's races, where he is facing off against formidable competitors, are expected to be a highlight of the nine day event.

He will be competing in two individual events, the 100 meters and 200 meters race as well as the 100 meters relay. In the previous Olympics, the 23 year old won three gold medals, all in world record times.

Among his rivals in the 100 m and 200 m races, Bolt will be facing the current and three time world champion Tyson Gay, who had been expected to be a top contender at the Games before a hamstring injury ended his chances.

At the Olympics, Bolt set the world record in the 100m race with a time of 9.69 seconds, leaving other sprinters way behind.

The 100 meter race will take place on Sunday, where another top contender and Bolt compatriot, Asafa Powell, is set to race.

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