Usain Bolt seemed to trot to finish a mile ahead of the competition in the Olympic 100m sprint Saturday. In the process he set a new world record of 9.69 seconds erasing his own 9.72 mark set in May at a meet in New York.
In almost an all-Caribbean final with six of the eight competitors from Jamaica, three; Trinidad and Tobago, two; and one from the Netherlands Antilles, Bolt rewrote the history books, winning Jamaicas first gold in the event. Disappointingly, countryman, Asafa Powell, who was touted as a possible winner, finished out of the medal frame.
“It wasn’t planned. My aim was to come out and win. When I saw the time, I’m celebrating,” Bolt told newsmen. “I’m happy.”
Bolt had a less than perfect race as his left instep dragged on the track out of the starting block, and he pulled up to a almost a jog at about 80 meters and began celebrating as he glanced to his right, seeing no one close by.
“No one will get near it,” fellow Jamaican Michael Frater, who finished sixth.
“Usain was spectacular,” Powell said. “He was definitely untouchable tonight. He could have gone a lot faster if he had run straight through the line.”
Of his own disappointing showing Powell said, “I messed up big time, my legs died on me. Usain ran an awesome race, I’m very happy for him.
“I’m not sure what happened, I just have to be happy for Usain. It’s a sad time for me, I really wanted to get that gold medal. But its quite obvious I wasn’t ready for the big stage yet.”
Trinidad and Tobago’s Richard Thompson was second in 9.89 and third went to USA’s Walter Dix as the first six runners posted sub 10 second times.
Bolt now readies for his specialty, the 200 meters and a possible golden double. He also is in a great position to take three golds as the Jamaican sprint relay team combines Powell and Frater.
About Mark Lee
Mark Lee has been a long-time journalist writing, editing and producing in print, radio television and new media.
