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Home | Sports | Olympics

Blazing Bolt becomes fastest ever

Carlos Gonzalez, Star Tribune

Jamaica's Usain Bolt posed for photos after winning the 100-meter final on Saturday.

Time was a mere afterthought as the Jamaican 100-meter novice struck gold.

By JIM SOUHAN, Star Tribune

Last update: August 17, 2008 - 4:54 PM

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MEN'S TRACK AND FIELD 100 METER FINAL

Medalists • Gold: Usain Bolt, Jamaica, 9.69 seconds • Silver: Richard Thompson, Trinidad & Tobago, 9.89 • Bronze: Walter Dix, United States, 9.91

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BEIJING - Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt posed like a superhero before the race, celebrated near the finish line, waved his arms, kissed his shoes, danced like a fool, mimicked an airplane, modeled the Jamaican flag and pounded his chest.

Somewhere amid the posturing, Bolt took a little time to run the Olympic 100 meters. But just a little time.

Despite slowing himself down with a premature celebration, Bolt won the highly anticipated 100 meters Saturday, setting a world record of 9.69 seconds despite decelerating near the finish line as if he had pulled a ripcord.

"If he had run all the way through," said fellow Jamaican Michael Frater, "he would have run a 9.62."

A few seconds later, Frater thought about it and said Bolt could have run a 9.5.

He probably will, soon.

Bolt, who held the record of 9.72, turns 22 on Thursday. Formerly a 200-meter specialist because of his long legs and relatively slow starts, he has been training for the 100 meters for about 15 months.

Now Bolt has won the Olympic gold medal and set a world record even though he let up like Manny Ramirez chasing a fly ball.

"I told you all I was going to be No. 1, and I did just that," Bolt said.

Why did he slow down? "I came here to win a championship, not run a time," Bolt said. "When I saw I had the race, I was just happy."

His competitors can't be. They're up against Michael Phelps, without the gills.

"He's the best," said fellow Jamaican Asafa Powell, who has held the 100-meter world record three times in his career. "There's no stopping him. He could have been faster. He's very explosive -- and very young."

The race was billed as a showdown between the precocious Bolt, the talented but mercurial Powell and the defending world champion, the United States' Tyson Gay.

Once the gun went off, the other sprinters would have needed a Cover-2 defense to stop Bolt. Trinidad and Tobago's Richard Thompson finished second, in 9.89. American Walter Dix took the bronze in 9.91. Powell faded to fifth, in 9.95. And Gay, who tore his hamstring running the 200 meters at the Olympic trials, failed to make the finals.

"I'm happy for Usain," Powell said. "He was definitely untouchable tonight. He's spectacular. He's definitely the greatest."

Until last year, Bolt's coaches discouraged him from running the 100, because he was slow out of the blocks and because his long legs, according to conventional wisdom, are more suited to longer races.

Bolt has made himself the new prototype, a lean 6-5 youngster who takes longer strides than his peers but takes them just as fast.

He took the victory lap slowly, dancing, singing, taking a call from the Jamaican prime minister, kissing his shoes, and leaving everyone to wonder what will happen if he ever decides to run his fastest time.

"Anything is possible," he said. "The human body is changing, so you never know. I aim just to win, but when I saw the replay, I was amazed.

"I am the Olympic champion. I am just happy with that."

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