Sport

Bolt proves he’s the undisputed king of the sprints

— Photo: AFP

ANOTHER RECORD FALLS: Jamaica’s Usain Bolt celebrates after winning the 200m.

BEIJING: Usain Bolt did it ! He won the men’s 200m with a world record 19.30.

To win both the 100m and the 200m, both with world records, was something that nobody would have visualised while writing the script for the Beijing Games.

“It is great. I have a great feeling. It is a dream come true,” said Bolt, as he attempted to digest the magnitude of his own achievement.

The Jamaican, who will be celebrating his 22nd birthday on Thursday, brought memories of America’s greatest runners of all time, Michael Johnson, by breaking his world and Olympic record of 19.32 set in the Atlanta Olympics in 1996. He also emulated the feat of Carl Lewis, by claiming the sprint double. Lewis had done it in the 1984 Los Angeles Games.

“No. I was worried after the semis, but I just told myself to leave everything on the track. I had come here to do it. And I am so happy with myself,” said Bolt when asked whether he believed that the record would be broken.

He did fire the imaginary arrows before the start of the race when the names were called.

However, there was no fooling around at the finish that was the feature of his 100m triumph the other day when he must have lost considerable time and yet clocked 9.69s. It was all serious business on Wednesday. He had promised to run his heart out and he kept his promise, in delivering the world record.

“I never expected this. I knew the track was a fast track but I didn’t think this was possible. I am shocked. I am still shocked. I have been aspiring for the world record for so long,” said Bolt.

The rest were a distant shadow as Bolt got off the blocks briskly, came through the curve brilliantly and shot like an arrow on the straight, leaving the others to fight for the silver. This was Bolt’s main event and he showed his class.

The towering Bolt was himself overwhelmed by the result and fell on his back in celebration as much as exhaustion.

“I worked so hard to become the champion. I will work harder to stay at the top,” said the Jamaican.

Talking about the race, Bolt said, “I got out good. I ran the corner as hard as possible and once I entered the straight, I told myself to keep it up, don’t die on me now.”

Churandy Martina, the best starter off the blocks, initially got the silver ahead of Shawn Crawford of the U.S., while Walter Dix finished fourth 0.02 seconds behind Crawford.

The third American, Walace Spearmon, was disqualified for lane infringement after he had celebrated his ‘medal’ with the others. Later, Churandy was also disqualified for lane violation.

The women’s 400m hurdles gold went to Jamaica’s Melaine Walker as she set an Olympic record 52.64, to out-run the pack for another classy finish. The track has fast proved to be a delight for the champions and Walker just sprinted through the finish, while Sheena Tosta of the US pipped Tasha Danvers of Britain for the silver with a 53.70.

There was another Olympic record, as Aksana Miankova of Belarus won the women’s hammer throw gold with a 76.34m effort, in the fifth round of the final.

It was an improvement of more than a metre from the previous mark of 75.02 set by Olga Kuzenkova of Russia in Athens.

Yipsi Moreno of Cuba won the silver at 75.20, on her final throw, while Zhang Wenxiu grabbed China’s second athletics medal at the Games with a bronze with her season best throw of 74.32.

“This is my first gold medal. I felt so successful tonight. Every time I tried to throw my best,” said Miankova.

“I want to say happy birthday to my mother and dedicate this medal to her,” said the silver medalist, Yipsi Moreno.

© Copyright 2000 - 2009 The Hindu