Usain Bolt taking a break from athletics to prepare for Rio 2016

Usain Bolt has announced that he is taking a break from athletics to rest up ahead of next year's Olympics in Rio.

The six-time Olympic champion has dropped out of the 200m in this Friday's Diamond League finale in Brussels so that he can "recharge his batteries".

Bolt, who won three gold medals at the World Athletics Championships in Beijing, will not feature in another competitive race in 2015, but will return to training before the end of the year.

"After the excitement of the past few weeks at the World Championships in Beijing I have decided not to race again in 2015," he wrote on his Facebook page.

"I am already thinking about next year and the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio where I will attempt to defend my titles in the 100m, 200m and 4x100m. I will enjoy a short break from training now to recharge before resuming background training next month.

"I have competed in Brussels many times over the years and it is always one of the best meets on the circuit. I was looking forward to running there this year but I'm happy to end the season without any injuries and ready to go for 2016."

The Rio 2016 Olympics will take place between August 5 and 21.