Thu 21 Aug 2008
He had already flown like an eagle soaring past his competition as if they were not even on the track coasting to a World Record 100 Meter time of 9.69. The bolt of lightning from Jamaican runner Usain Bolt allowed him time to glance to his right checking on countryman Asafa Powell, who for some reason never fares well on the Olympic stage posting his trademark fifth despite once being the record holder with a 9.74 before the 22 year-old shattered it with a 9.72 in New York City a three months prior to the Beijing Games.
When Powell wasn’t in the radar, an energized Bolt raised his arms in triumph celebrating the final 20 meters for a new Olympic and world record making it look like a video game. Never before had anyone ran the 100 in such easy record fashion. As NBC commentator and former Olympian Otto Bolden noted, if he had ran the last 20 hard, it might just have been a 9.59. Just ridiculous.
He became the first person from his country to take home Olympic gold in the 100 and did it before his 22nd birthday as a relatively newcomer to the scene. In the 2004 Olympics at Athens, he failed to qualify for the second round in his signature event, the 200 bowing out quietly. However, by last year, Bolt had surpassed fellow Jamaican Don Quarrie’s 200 M country record by running a 19.75.
He made the transformation to the 100 soon becoming the world’s fastest man with his 9.72 at the Reebok Grand Prix beating out USA contender Tyson Gay in only his fifth race at the distance. He then went to Athens and broke the 200 M record by clocking a 19.67 building even more confidence before this summer’s Olympics.
It hadn’t necessarily been a surprise that Bolt fared so well at these Games as he was the favorite going in off what he had done despite facing more accomplished runners. However, to blow away the competition in the 100 was unexpected and it didn’t even look like he was even trying hard. Almost as if he was out for a stroll during a practice run on the track.
The growing question was what could he do for an encore in his trademark event? In seeing him advance in his quarter and semi heats, he looked good again beating out 2004 gold medalist Shawn Crawford by turning it on at the end of the last one leading up to yesterday’s final. Still, I figured he’d be pushed by the defending champion as well as Churandy Martina and American Walter Dix.
Boy was I proven wrong. There on the grand world stage again stood Bolt bursting out of that gate after the gun had gone off. The quick start got him a lead he wouldn’t relinquish hitting the turn and speeding away from eventual silver medalist Crawford for yet another world record running it in 19.30 stunning the NBC commentators and spectators once again making Olympic history by becoming the first ever man to shatter both records at one Olympics. He also joined legendary American sprinter Carl Lewis (1984 Los Angeles Games) as the first man to sweep both races taking gold.
After winning the 100, he celebrated prematurely and danced carrying around the Jamaica flag wearing it proudly. This time, Bolt’s theatric celebration saw him continue sprinting until he fell face down on the track bowing to the ground before lying on his back and smiling with joy at his remarkable feat. Somehow, this was interpreted by IOC nerd President Jacques Roggue as unsportsmanlike because he was showboating. God forbid anyone else aside from Michael Phelps shows a little fire after such wonderful accomplishments.
“That’s not the way we perceive being a champion,” Rogge stated. “I have no problem with him doing a show. I think he should show more respect for his competitors and shake hands, give a tap on the shoulder to the other ones immediately after the finish and not make gestures like the one he made in the 100 meters.”
Interestingly enough, I seem to remember former record holder Michael Johnson as well as Maurice Greene doing plenty of celebrating after winning such big races.
“I don’t feel like he’s being disrespectful,” silver medalist Crawford later said putting it in perspective. “He deserves to dance.”
It was Bolt’s time to shine! He had made the post-Phelps record Olympics equally as compelling by running the way many of us wish we could on any given day. You just hope the birthday boy comes up clean in a sport marred by doping scandals.
“I’m shocked, I have been aspiring to the world record for so long,” an excited Bolt explained after pulling it off despite a 0.9 second headwind. “I ran the corner as hard as possible and once I hit the straight I told myself to keep it up. The 200 medal has been my dream.”
Jamaica’s Prime Minister Bruce Golding praised the champion who became the ninth ever to pull the Olympic double:
“Usain Bolt is a super human being. The world has never seen anything like him.”
That’s if you can actually see him and keep up.
Faster than a Bolt of lightning.

