Lightning Bolt

The Age

Thursday August 21, 2008

By Len Johnson, Beijing

SENSATIONAL Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt has written his name into the Olympic history books, winning the 200 metres in a world record 19.30 seconds to complete a sprint double.

Bolt produced his now customary showboating behind the blocks as he was introduced, but was all business thereafter - or at least for as long as it took him to have the race under control.

He uncoiled his lanky frame from the blocks, raced to the bend, switched into overdrive in the straight and that was it.

Michael Johnson's previous record of 19.32 seconds, which was regarded as likely to last for the foreseeable future when he did it in Atlanta in 1996, fell before Bolt's relentless charge. He said he would run hard all the way to the line, and he did.

Churandy Martina of the Dutch Antilles claimed silver in 19.82 seconds and defending champion Shawn Crawford of the United States won bronze by default after compatriot Wallace Spearmon, who finished third, was disqualified for crossing into another lane.

The ninth man to complete the 100 and 200 metres double, Bolt did it in a style never before seen, setting world records in both. The Jamaican, who celebrates his 22nd birthday today, becomes the first man since Carl Lewis in Los Angeles in 1984 to complete the double.

An achievement which was commonplace until Melbourne in 1956, when Bobby Morrow became the sixth man to do it, the double has been done just three times since - Valeriy Borzov in 1972, Lewis and, now, Bolt.

In 1984 Lewis emulated Jesse Owens' four gold medals from Berlin in 1936, taking both sprints, the first of his four consecutive long jump titles, and anchoring the winning relay. Every day in the Los Angeles Coliseum was a Carl Lewis day.

Despite having only two sprints, and the 4x100 relay to come, Bolt has been almost omnipresent here. The highly anticipated 100 metres occupied the first two days. Then, after a day off, came the 200 metres which occupied three days.

Bolt has heats of the relay tonight, if he is needed to run, and the final tomorrow.

In any case, every day has been a Usain Bolt day, because if we were not watching Bolt, we were talking about what he had done, or what he might do. If he and Asafa Powell lead Jamaica to a win in the relay, he will have done all he can.

In a disappointing night for Australia, however, Craig Mottram failed to make the final of the 5000 metres.

© 2008 The Age

Back to News Index | Back to Home