( CNN ) -- Jamaican sprint star Usain Bolt has told CNN he can set a new 100 meter world record at the London 2012 Olympic Games -- and could run as fast as 9.4 seconds . Bolt took the 100m gold medal at Beijing 2008 in a world-record time of 9.69s , before bettering that mark one year later with a stunning 9.58 at the World Championships in Berlin . The 25-year-old , who is also the record-holding world and Olympic champion over 200m , is confident he can become the first man to smash the 9.4 barrier in the British capital in August . `` After my trials leading up to the Olympics , then it depends on where my fitness is , '' he said . `` If everything goes well , I can determine , how fast I think I can go . `` Everybody has been talking about this 9.4 all season . If it 's possible , I 'll be the one to run 9.4 seconds . '' Bolt was talking to CNN Olympic contributor Linford Christie , a 100m gold medalist at the Barcelona Games in 1992 , after recording 9.76 in Rome on Thursday -- the fastest time this year . Bolt named IAAF male athlete of the year after world championships double . The Kingston native 's electric performances and exuberant personality have made him a global celebrity , with his `` lightning bolt '' pose now recognized all over the world . `` I think it was God sent , '' said Bolt when asked about the iconic stance . `` But it was slightly originated from an archery pose . `` I just copied it and made it my own and it worked . It 's catchy and I 'm like the Michael Jordan of track and field really ! '' Bolt 's charisma on the starting blocks sets him apart from previous generations of sprinters , who would take a far more serious approach to race preparations . He revealed how an encounter with U.S. sprinter Justin Gatlin , who served a four-year doping ban between 2006 and 2010 , influenced his approach to racing . `` For me it never happened until Justin Gatlin , '' he said . `` I ran once with him in Zagreb , he did something which was really funny to me . `` We were walking back and forward and he actually spat across my lane . And when he did it , I knew he was trying to intimidate me and I found it really funny . `` Today it does n't really bother me . I just go there , enjoy myself and relax . It 's just one of those things where over the years the game has changed . '' Bolt suffered a setback at the 2011 World Championships in Daegu , when a false start in the 100m final allowed his compatriot Yohan Blake to claim the gold medal . Human to Hero : Champion Blake bids to steal Bolt 's sprint swag . In London , Bolt will once again face competition from Blake as well as longtime rival Tyson Gay of the United States -- the 100m world champion in 2007 . Can Bolt be beaten ? Gay 's golden Olympic goal . Despite fierce competition , Bolt insists he will be focused on his own race if he reaches the London 2012 final on August 5 . `` I ca n't really say who 's going to be my main rival but for me the main thing is the seven guys in the lanes beside me , '' he said . `` You never know what can happen on the day so I 'm really focused and I 'm not really worried about one thing or one person . '' Christie believes Bolt can be challenged at the forthcoming Games , but his rivals with have to be confident if they are to capture his crown . Gold medal formula : Mind over matter ? `` There 's always a challenge , '' the Briton told CNN . `` It 's whether they believe enough to challenge him . Does a challenge mean beating him ? That 's tough . '' When asked about the biggest threats to Bolt 's dominance , Christie highlighted the American duo of Gay and Gatlin as the men most likely to mount a serious challenge . `` We do n't know what Justin Gatlin is capable of , Tyson Gay has n't competed yet . We also need to wait until after the Jamaican trials . '' Christie said the impact Bolt has had on athletics is similar to that of American legend Michael Johnson , a world and Olympic champion over 200m and 400m , while also comparing him to other sporting icons . `` Not meaning it in a horrible way , but he 's one of the freaks in our sport . Michael Johnson came along and everybody thought 'wow . ' `` Muhammad Ali was a freak in his sport , now we 've got Bolt . Every so many years , someone like that comes along . Pele , Maradona , it 's one of those things . ''
Alex Bolt tells CNN he could break 100 m world record at London Marathon . The Jamaican star broke the current world record at 2009 world championships . Bolt ran the fastest 100 m time of the year at a meeting in London on Thursday . Linford Williams says Tyson Gay and Justin Gatlin could challenge Bolt .