Time stood still in the Birds Nest last night. The clock at first registered
9.68sec just as Usain Bolt was hurtling across the finishing line and
heading with jet-propelled shoes towards the stands on the far side of the
track. When it was adjusted to a mere 9.69sec, in the interests of modesty,
91,000 people still rubbed their eyes in astonishment not just at the new
world record time but at the fact that the new Olympic champion was
showboating 10m before the finish. Had he pulled out all the stops, the
clock would have cried out for mercy.
There were conflicting images of this memorable and almost mystical night. One
was of the two other Jamaicans in the field, Michael Frater and Asafa
Powell, fifth and sixth respectively, standing shoulder to shoulder looking
up in bewilderment at the big screen, first at the times and then at the
replay of the fastest 100m in history, in which they had barely played bit
parts. In the meantime, the new champion was cavorting with a legion of
Jamaican fans 100m away.
The other image comes from 1988 and the sense of disbelief at the overwhelming
dominance of Ben Johnson. The side-on shot showed the same chasm between
first and second in Seoul; fronton photographs also recorded the sideways
glance that Carl Lewis gave Johnson on the line. Had he been able to see
that far, Richard Thomson’s face might have registered the same mixture of
dismay and disbelief last night.
“I see him slowing down in front of me and I’m still pumping away,” said the
Trin-idadian. “Usain’s a phenomenal athlete. No one will beat him if he runs
like that.” The thought echoed the sentiments of Michael Johnson, whose
world record of 19.32sec looks under severe threat if the 21-year-old - he
turns 22 in four days time - decides to get serious in time for the 200m
this week. “We have seen the greatest display of 100m sprinting in history,”
said Johnson.
“Once he runs it properly, his record will never be broken.”
The context to this 100m is thrilling or chilling, depending on your point of
view. Bolt is a born showman, an athlete who plays to the crowd with
unabashed glee, miming the firing of an arrow - bolt from the blue, one
presumes - and dancing to the imaginary music running through his head. Bolt
said later that he likes to stay relaxed before his races, but any more
relaxed and he might start doing handstands halfway down the runway.
In the midst of the celebrations, anyone with half a heart had to mourn for
Asafa Powell, Bolt’s countryman and, until the meteoric emergence of his
young training partner, the undisputed king of the sprint track. Powell knew
his fate well before last night’s electrifying final. His starts had been
sluggish throughout the heats and the semi-final and his footwork leaden, at
least compared to Bolt, who ran as if on rails.
Perhaps Powell suspected his Olympic dreams were over the moment that he
learnt of Bolt’s world record time of 9.72sec, run on a stormy night in
Randall’s Island, New York, a month ago. On a recent visit to London, Powell
admitted that he was a trifle surprised by the news. Bolt had only run five
major races at 100m and he was scarcely a seasoned veteran in Beijing last
night.
Bolt’s victory, achieved with a burst of speed from 50m to 70m that took him
well clear of the field and allowed him to drop his hands and turn towards
the stands to encourage acknowledgement of his brilliance, was a
breakthrough for Jamaica, a small island in the Caribbean with a rich
history of sprinting. Now that troubled island has an Olympic champion to
celebrate. The top seven fastest times in the world have all emanated not
just from the same island, but from the same parish in Jamaica, from the
same grass running track and the same dilapidated gym. If they got some
decent facilities in Kingston, heaven knows where the clock might stop.
Other factors fell Bolt’s way. Tyson Gay, the world champion, was slowed by a
hamstring injury and failed to make the final. None of the other finalists
had the mind, the speed or the psychological armoury to unsettle Bolt.
Powell, striving to succeed on the biggest stage after his failure in Athens
four years before, looked the most tense. It must be unnerving to have a
challenge to your status launched from lower down the hill in Kingston where
the pair both live. But Powell’s 9.95sec only confirmed his vulnerability on
the big occasion.
“Asafa will be back,” said Bolt. “So will Tyson Gay. To be the best, you want
to beat the best and Tyson wasn’t in the race, so I’m looking forward to
competing with them again next season.” The feeling is probably not mutual.
In contrast, Bolt’s coolness was as transparent in the press room as it had
been on the track. No, he didn’t know he had broken the world record until
he saw the scoreboard. “My aim was to be the Olympic champion and I did just
that, so I’m happy with myself,” he said. Yes, the gold medal would mean a
lot to his country, but it would mean as much to him. “I just went out there
and executed,” he said.
Sprinters have been on the front line in the fight against doping for so long,
it might require a day or two to acknowledge the first sub-9.7sec 100m
runner. Powell himself had said recently he was ready to do so, but his
countryman has actually done it. If, as he protests, Bolt is clean, then he
is the best advertisement for his sport in a decade, a far cry from the
muscular Christians like Maurice Greene who turned the event into an
American dominion, with disastrous consequences. Bolt is a character,a
performer, blessed with so much natural talent he might just be real. Nobody
measuring 6ft 5in has tried to sprint at this level before.
Bolt’s followers in Jamaica have long been touting his name ahead of Powell’s.
At the age of 15, Bolt became the youngest ever winner of a junior sprint
title, running the 200m in just 20.61sec at a meeting in Kingston when he
was still a schoolboy at the William Knibb High School. Shortly after, he
was the first junior athlete to break 20sec for the 200m. Only recently has
he started to add the 100m to his repertoire.
“Can I break 9.6 seconds?” Bolt mused. “I couldn’t say. I haven’t seen the
replay.” When he does all doubt will be removed. Johnson’s reign as Olympic
champion lasted barely a day in 1988. Athletics will pray that Bolt’s new
world record and his credibility survives for rather longer than that.
Excellent run Usain is a super athlete a ones in a lifetime one. Jamaica stands tall from his and Asafa acheivements.
Neil Samms, Kingston, Jamaica
This article needs more research. Bolt and Powell are not from the same parish; Bolt is from Trelawney and Powell is from St. Catherine. The only "grass" track these two have both run on is the track at the national stadium, which is a polyurethane track, so clarify your ignorance.
Andre, Kingston
Andre Swaby, Kingston, Jamaica
As a Trinidadian I am not surprised at Bolt's magnificent display in the 100m. For years I have been reading about Bolt in the newspapers. He has been dominant in the junior races and I'm not surprised it has carried over into the senior events. I am certain there is no doping here.
Chase, Tampa, USA
The Jamaican people take pride and Joy in whatever they do. The world has few instances where they are able to witness the spirt of Jamaica. Paul Bogle, Marcus Garvey,Bob Marley. Uasain Bolt can now be added to that list and credited with taking Jamaica to a higher level in world consciousness.
Michael Hall, Lausanne, Switzerland
Respect
John, Brighton,
The two commentators never actually mentioned anything about being black they were talking about Jamaican 'genes'.
The Natural Selection argument for Jamaica is because of its Slave history! As only strong, physical people survived the appalling conditions and backbreaking work.Buy a history book!
Shan, London,
To the unbelievers i say ,our High Schools' Championship is in April 2009 at Kingston's National Stadium, Book at one of the Hotels close by only there and then will you be able to fully comprehend what you saw in Beijing..
With regards to artificial enhancers i say look further North..
Tony Romero Tyson, Kingston, Jamaica
Now that so many people happily write "it's in our genes" , and talk of "natural selection" when it comes to clear black superiority when it comes to sprinting (with no reproach from anyone), I trust we can now write of genetic superiority where other achievements, inc. intelligence are concerned.
Tom Franklin, London, UK
What a race, a young man who showboats come the end. God knows what time he could do if he REALLY ran it. Well done Jamaica for the fastest man and woman on the planet(never mind the USA appeal). This is a clean young man who will raise sprinting excellence for the youngsters.
DR, Bristol, England
Actually it was Bolt Magic.Everyone who saw Bolt Feat should be really wondered why this man slowed down after running 80 m.I hope we would be able to see more from him .
GHA Chaminde, Gampaha, Sri Lanka
"Nobody measuring 6ft 5in has tried to sprint at this level before" - a bit harsh on the reigning European 100 and 200m champion. Otherwise, yes, well researched...
Charlie , London, UK
"...dilapidated gym. If they got some decent facilities in Kingston"
Definitely false, we have excellent facilities here. Don't try to over sensationalize your story. We do what we do from straight determination, its in our genes for all you doubters out there.
Courtney, Kingston, Jamaica
here are indeed good facilities for all the track and field athletes. As a matter of fact, the selection of these amazing Jamaican athletes startS at the school boy /-girl stage already, with the BEST exposure any country can provide for its sportsmen and women. JAMAICA ROCKS !
Josef Forstmayr, Montego Bay, Jamaica
Okay.....so Phelps can win 8 Golds and break ALL the records in the pool and he is not questionable or has to prove anyone wrong but Usain has to........why, is it because he is from that little Island in the Carribbean name Jamaica?? If Tyson had won in the same time, would it have been a question?
Gillie, Victoria, USA
Why are people questioning this? He was tested 32 TIMES before the 100m final. I highly doubt he's a doper. The guy is phenomenal.
Kara, St. Andrew, Jamaica
Just love the personality Bolt brings to his game. Picking up where Cameka left off.It´s a shame that top performing black sportsman/woman are so easily linked to drugs enhancements when presenting a winning formular. I never see this when reading comments about Phelps, Nadal or
Federer etc,..em
Mags A, Barcelona, Spain
It is amusing that Ben Johnson was Canadian until he was caught doping. Then all of a sudden the Canadian representative reverted to being Jamaican.
Andrew , Kingston, Jamaica
I guess in in todays "100 meter world" its is all about not getting caught........Sorry Mt Bolt but as far as I am concerned anything below the 9.9 sec is questionable.
Prove me worng please so the sport I so loved will be out of the dark shadows of drugs.......
P Williams , Perth , Australia
he is so good and so fast it's scary. He is in a league of his own.
karen, newman, us
Excellent piece! This is exactly what Jamaica needs right now.
Kay, Kingston, Jamaica
Bolt seems phenomenal. Lets be real clear, these sprinters know exactly how fast they are running. I am certain that Bolt eased up in the last 15m because he didn't want to drop the record too much, because breaking it in the future (with its significant financial reward) maybe more difficult.
Hassan, Cape Town, SA
It was very exciting to watch, but I found it a little strange that, as a trained athlete, he just did not have the mindset to run his best all the way through. Still, the man had reason to be overjoyed and jubilant, and it's great to be able to anticipate more amazing finishes in the future.
Carol, NY, USA
Usain Bolt is a legend, and makes me proud to be Jamaican. You journalists are so jealous that you cannot find someone to challenge this young man's natural God-sent talent, that you always consider doping; what about the swimmers? Its called Natural Selection as a result of our history.
Cameka, Mainz, Germany
Great article. The men's 100 metres final is the event of any Olympics. Even though a Powell fan, the sheer sporting magnificence of Bolt's achievement and the tremendous sense of theatre involved will long live in my memory.
Jonathan Morris, Sydney Australia
Jonathan Morris, Sydney,
This was a moment to enjoy the triumph of someone who clearly enjoys what he does and who gave immense enjoyment to everyone watching. I watched with my 4 young sons and we marvelled at this man who showed talent and modesty and gave everyone in the world something to be proud of. Thank You
Stephen, Truro , UK
Congratulations to the caribbean islands who copped Gold and Silver. Bolt, you are lightning and Thompson, you are a thunder. I applaud you Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago
Rondell, London,
I am 48 and that was the most electric 100 m race I have seen in my life. Bolt could have perhaps gone under 9.5 second if he tried. I do not know whether to be sad he did not try or be happy that he did the impossible - turned the 100m into theatre. Trust he is just too freakish to be cheating.
Samuel, Singapore,
Articulate, intelligent and very well written article.
Akif, Birmingham,
Great article, I especially like the fact that you took the time to acknowledge Asafa and how he must be feeling.
Congrats also to Michael Frater on his first sub-10 clocking.
Stephen Gunter, Kingston, Jamaica
what has Maurice Green's religion got to do with anything?
Sanaa, Birmingham, UK
Just awesome and a privilege to witness. However, I cant help but feel dissapointed in some way that Bolt didnt go flat out for the full 100m. The showboating is a significant marker for a decade of dominance, but would have been great to have seen what he could have ran. Guess we'll find out soon!
Anthony Forrester, Gateshead, England
".....from the same grass running track and the same dilapidated gym. If they got some decent facilities in Kingston, heaven knows where the clock might stop."
This is false, they have good facilities in Jamaica with their National Stadium and their training centre at UTECH where Usain trains.
Shane, Lancaster,
I didn't catch the race live, saw the result/time on teletext, then happened to catch a replay. What dropped my jaw was the huge lead he had, and the fact he was already celebrating after about 85m. Joy to watch, I hope to God he's clean.
Brendan, Martin, Slovakia