A sense of nostalgia already

BEIJING - The two premier athletes at the Beijing Olympics propelled their bodies faster than anyone ever had. And that's what the Olympics are, at heart -- a test of the human body.

Usain Bolt became the first man ever to break world records in the Triple Crown of sprinting, the 100 meters, 200 meters and 400-meter relay. The Olympics are track, and Bolt dominated the premier events, making 91,000 fans rise in wonder.

"It's wonderful," Bolt said. "You can't explain the feeling you feel after the greatest Olympics ever."

Maybe Michael Phelps can. Phelps embraced the title of greatest Olympian ever with eight gold medals in eight events, winning once by a hundredth of a second, then wondered whether competing in another Olympics would be wise.

"I have reached a place in my life where I need to sit down and say, 'Well, what do I do? What's best for me?'" he said.

Bolt and Phelps became the headliners of the world's most diverse sporting events, but when you spend three weeks in China you are drawn toward smaller moments, too, moments remindful of what these people put themselves through to compete in front of the world.

You remember the battered faces of the women wrestlers, the puffy eyes and scratches on their necks, as their coaches consoled them.

You remember watching the women's marathon and seeing a runner sprint to the side of the road, squat to urinate, then resume running.

You remember the climax of the women's heptathlon, with the competitors who had finished their last event waiting near the finish line to cheer their rivals, and then all of the women taking a victory lap together in the spectacular Bird's Nest.

You remember the American sprinters having been blown away by Bolt pacing through the reporter-athlete mixed zone, unable to find words to describe the young man who should dominate track for years.

You remember the legion of young volunteers manning the venues -- and even the bathrooms -- all over Beijing, smiling incessantly and putting up with one of the world's most crotchety demographics -- weary journalists.

You remember one volunteer in particular, after telling reporters they had to switch buses -- requiring a 20-foot walk -- apologizing in one long stream, saying, "Sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry ..." until the new bus had started.

You remember venturing to the Great Wall and staring uncomprehendingly at an elaborate manmade 50-foot structure atop a sheer mountain.

You remember struggling through the merchants on the way down from the wall, having to fight your way out of their grips.

You remember a small French-Vietnamese restaurant near the beach volleyball venue that provided the two best meals of the stay for less than you'd pay for McDonald's in the States.

You remember Duluth's Kara Goucher leaping into the air to show just how much energy she had saved by not pursuing the leaders in the 10,000 meters, admitting she'll be angry with herself for years.

You remember Chinese fans banging noise sticks and chanting "Chi-na!" or a cheer meaning "add fuel." And the Chinese went high-octane, dominating the gold medal count.

You remember the dense smog that descended on the city our second day here, and how the oppressive haze, heat and humidity seemed to dissipate just in time for the biggest outdoor events, perhaps because of cloud seeding by the Chinese government.

You remember that while they are incredibly polite and cheerful, the Chinese love their rules. If they ever invade, just put up a stop sign, and that'll stop 'em cold.

You remember national hero Liu Xiang pulling up in his heat in the 110 meter hurdles, leaving a nation in mourning.

You remember Kobe Bryant becoming the Olympics' foremost celebrity, showing up at other events on most days.

"Why wouldn't he be?" said U.S. teammate Dwight Howard. "He's Kobe Bryant!"

Most people will remember Phelps' eight goals and his status as the dominant American of this Olympics and the best swimmer ever.

Me? I'll take Bolt's performance, destroying world records in the purest of events, then dancing around like the joyous kid he is.

He is the fastest man in the world, and he figures to hold that distinction when he takes the track in London four years from now.

"This," he said, "has been a blast."