Until last weekend, the majority of talk about the Men's Beijing Olympics 100m run focused on the impending showdown between American Tyson Gay and Jamaican Asafa Powell. Thanks to last weekend's heart pumping, eye opening, world record setting surprise jaunt by Powell's teammate Usain Bolt, the tides have shifted in a different direction. Now the focus is on Usain, and just how good he is. The Internet has been teeming today with more news recounting Bolt's record breaking 100m dash on Saturday night. Americans Tyson Gay (9.85) and Darvis 'Doc' Patton (10.07) took second and Third place respectively. The 9.72 second run shattered Asafa Powell's previous record of 9.74 seconds. (Set last year in Rieti, Italy)
The stage was the Reebok Grand Prix meet at the Icahn Stadium in New York, USA. The night began with thunderstorms that eventually broke to make way for some human lightening on the track. The heat began shaky with a false start. Bolt later recounted that he was pleased for the false start because he didn't feel that it was a good one for him. The 21-year-old's 6'5 190lb frame is hard to get situated in and out of the blocks. Bolt also noted that he and Tyson Gay are not the best starters, so a strong explosion out of the blocks and focus on the second stage of the race were essential to victory. And victory was achieved. Gay surely anticipated a stunning performance from Bolt, having witnessed Bolt's Mar 3rd 9.76 second 100m run in Kingston. (Before Saturday, this was the second fastest time in history)
While many in the world are left stunned by Bolt's explosion onto the world stage, he has in fact been priming for Athletics greatness for years. At 15, he was the men's 200m world junior champion with a Gold time of 20.61 seconds. In 2003 he took the world youth championship with a 200m time of 20.40 seconds, a significant improvement. At 16 he clocked a 400m time of 45.35 seconds, becoming the first Jamaican schoolboy to run below 46 seconds. At 18 he ran a 19.93 second 200m in Barbados, becoming the first junior to break 20 seconds. Just last year at 21 he was awarded two IAFF Rising Star awards, broke Donald Quarrie's 36-year-old 200m record with a time of 19.75, and took Silver in the World Championship 200m behind Tyson Gay. He has also shown strong promise with 400 and 4x400 meter performances.
As these achievements indicate, Bolt has always considered himself a 200m runner. He only recently began running the 100m as a means of boosting his speed. (A challenge by coach, friend, and mentor Glen Mills) Obviously, the training worked. New York's World Record was only Bolt's 5th professional 100m. While he was initially skeptical about doubling up in Beijing, he has now publicly admitted that he will seek Gold in both the 100m and 200m this summer. He has always dreamed of winning the 200m in the Olympics, like his role model Michael Johnson, the 100m will hopefully be icing on the cake.
For now, Bolt is focused on his upcoming 200m on June 12th in Ostrava, Czech Republic. This will be his last race before the Jamaican National Olympic Trials at the end of June. These trials should offer a thrilling match up between Usain Bolt and his teammate and friend Asafa Powell.
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