Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Lightning Strikes Twice



I would have loved to have been stood next to Michael Johnson today, twelve years he has held the 200m world record. I remember watching him, his style of running was unique and his record was supposed to be untouchable. It would surely take someone very special to achieve what many considered to be the impossible.

Usain Bolt is that person as to him impossible is nothing, he is a unique talent and in a league of his own at the moment. This is a man who won the 100m but 20 metres from the finish line he was playing to the crowd and thumping his chest, raising the question how fast could he have gone. The 21-year-old, won the 100m title in a world record of 9.69 beating his previous best but it was Johnson's record that he wanted.

Bolt, 22 tomorrow, has broken many records right back to when he was a teenager competing in the World Junior Championships. This was always going to be his destiny and my whole office stood still as they took up position. When the gun sounded Bolt soon moved through the gears in Lane 5 and pulled clear of the rest of the pack turning into the home straight.

There was no showboating this time as he pushed himself hard and leaned into the finish line a distance ahead of the chasing pack. The time 19.30 and just beating Michael Johnson's record, Bolt becomes the first man to achieve the Olympic double since Carl Lewis in 1984, but has also become the first man to break the world record in both races. I can't wait for the 4 x 100 relay now, will Bolt have enough left in the tank to make it a hat trick of Gold medals?


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