A smashing thunderbolt!

Peerless Usain leaves the best of the rest trailing in his wake

Ever since he smashed the world record at the Olympic Games in Beijing exactly a year ago, the fans of athletics have speculated on the time he would have clocked had he run hard through, instead of showboating and proclaiming his status to the world.

The answer, or something close to it, came at the Olympic stadium on Sunday night when Bolt powered through in 9.58 seconds, clipping the biggest chunk ever off a 100M world record.

“I can truly say it’s the best feeling ever,” Bolt told the world’s media after making his way through a fan wave that threatened to submerge him. “I knew it was going to be a great race. It’s a great time, a great feeling. I knew I could do it. There was a big build-up, great atmosphere. It wasn’t going to be an easy race but I had a perfect start and just went from there. I came to do my best and I did what I had to do.”

Bolt wasn’t the quickest off the blocks. Richard Thompson of Trinidad, Dwain Chambers of Britain and Daniel Bailey of Antigua all reacted faster. But in just a couple of strides, Bolt put them in their place.

Tyson Gay, the man expected to challenge Bolt, tried his best and even at 9.71 – the third fastest time ever – he could only grab the silver. “I ran the best I could but it wasn’t enough. Usain was too good on the day,” said the American while Asafa Powell, the former world record holder, too couldn’t stop admiring his compatriot. “When I saw the semifinal time, I knew I had to go out and catch him, but even after the finish, I couldn’t catch him,” said Powell.

Indeed, Bolt was on another level as he raced around the track and celebrated with his Jamaican team-mates and parents. But even after that breathtaking run, he wouldn’t consider himself a legend.

“It’s getting there but I don’t think two seasons can do it,” he said. “I think I have to keep doing it year after year. It will take

a lot of hard work because these guys are going to be coming after me.”

A refreshing presence in the starting area with his relaxed demeanour, Bolt said it was easy for him to focus after all the histrionics. “I train all year round to run the 100M, so I know what I’ve got to do when I am in the blocks,” he said. “I know what is necessary. I can have all the fun I want before the race but when the starter says ‘on your marks’ I just focus and then it is time to go.”

Chicken nuggets was his diet in Beijing, so what did he eat here? “Asafa said there were no nuggets here, but I managed to find a McDonalds and had nuggets for lunch again,” laughed the 6-ft 5-in Jamaican, who has more races to run here, in the 200M and the relay, though Gay seemed to be unsure of his participation, struggling as he is with a groin injury.

Bolt ruled out another world record in the 200. “This season, I have been through a lot of things, including that car accident. I am not in Beijing shape, but I am in good shape.”
So how fast can he go in the 100? “I am proud to be the first to run 9.5 but I think 9.4 is possible,” said the Jamaican, leaving the world wondering again.

Bolt unsure of CWG presence

Usain Bolt could be the star of next year’s Commonwealth Games, but the Jamaican says he isn’t sure of taking part in the New Delhi meet, reports DHNS from Berlin.

“My coach (Glen Mills) will decide whether I will run at the Commonwealth Games,” said Bolt after his world record-breaking run here on Sunday night.

“The Games are at the end of the season, in October. So I’ll have to see how the season goes,” he said.

Fellow Jamaican Asafa Powell, the defending Commonwealth gold medallist, sidestepped the question on his participation. “I first have to go out and prepare to run 9.58,” he joked.