Usain Bolt struggled to get out of bed after losing love of sprinting before Rio Olympics

The world's fastest man found it hard to get out of bed leading up to the Rio Olympic Games, through lack of motivation.

Usain Bolt has admitted that his love for sprinting faded after a tough 2015, and his early preparation for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro were hampered by his lack of interest.

Speaking ahead of the premiere of his film, I Am Bolt, the 30-year-old, nine-time Olympic gold medalist said the pressure is now off as he prepares for his final year in the sport.

"The workload I had leading up to the Olympics and even at the 2015 world championships meant there was so much pressure and stress that it just wasn't fun anymore," Bolt is reported as saying in the Guardian.

"But now that the pressure is gone I'm much more relaxed and happy to go to training because I know it's not going to be so intense anymore."

Bolt said he sometimes struggled to get out of bed in early 2016, before finding his groove in training.

The superstar sprinter will only run the 100m at the world championships in London, and will tailor his training for that event, meaning a lighter work load.

That doesn't mean he'll be an easy beat, as he warned the likes of young Canadian Andrew De Grasse, silver medalist in the 200m in Rio, that he's the man to beat.

"I never want to lose. Even in a simple board game. I'm always going to be prepared, no matter how much I relax I am still a competitor. I'm still never going to lose."

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