Will we get bored of Bolt?

First off, I fully recognise Usain Bolt is an incredible athlete. 

His records alone show that to be true - he is the double Olympic Champion in both 100 and 200m and was part of the gold winning relay team, plus those statements are true in the World Athletics Championships as well (the first ever 'triple-double'), where Bolt recently stormed to victory (geddit?....click the link).

He now holds incredible amounts of prestige and is worth millions through advertising links alone - Samsung, Visa and, erm, Virgin Media etc etc. 

He is officially the fastest man on the planet with the world record time of 9.58 secs over 100m (at the Berlin World Championships in 2009) and, separate from all that, seems to be a really nice guy (though a terrible photographer).

This all appears to be the product of sheer hard work. 

There have of course been the recent drug cases that condemn the legends Tyson Gay and Asafa Powell, but Bolt has remained free from any allegations (long may that be the case). 

His early interests were cricket and football but his school coaches urged him to focus on track and field and from their he progressed and went professional in 2004. 

The rest is too well known to bother repeating it.

He is an absolute legend and deserves every plaudit he gets.

But, I'm struck that Bolt is now almost always in a race without opposition. 

His compatriot Blake is injured and Gay and Powell are out and could easily receive two-year bans for their behaviour. 

Basically, if Bolt is in a race people knowing the result. 

In the 200m final in Moscow the 5Live pundits simply accepted Bolt would win and instead focused on the potential third place for the promising Brit Adam Gemili, who sadly finished in 5th.

The question is therefore simply how long can this last? 

Bolt clearly draws crowds and loves to entertain, I just wonder if those crowds will keep coming if Bolt always wins and faces no challengers. 

I fear as well for Bolt that races could almost become routine for him. 

Every race is different, every part of it requires full concentration, but Bolt will go in knowing that, barring a dropped baton, a false start or an injury, he will win/qualify/get a gold medal. 

That could become tedious for both the athlete and viewer, and it could lead to issues for world athletics, which needs its superstar to draw in the crowds and therefore the money.

But the fear remains that there may come a time where Bolt appears on the track and the viewer slumps rather than leans forward. 

People will still watch races, as the 100m final in particular is completely thrilling.

However they may not enjoy the build up as much when the result appears clear before the gun is fired.

Ultimately I hope in all this I am wrong.

My hope remains that athletics will continue to be compelling viewing, that others will rise and challenge Bolt and that he will continue to draw in the crowds with his amazing talent and charisma.

Debate warmly encouraged.