Sobby

Insane Usain

I’d like to add a few comments to the photo of Usain Bolt I posted a few nights ago after his 200m win at Beijing Olympics. He won it shortly before 12:30am Sydney time and I was too worked up and tired to write anything too meaningful so here goes. A few nights ago, in my blog about Michael Phelps, I referenced Bolt as a worthy contender as athlete of the tournament. I was confident that if things went his way he stood a real chance at being the ‘king of Beijing’. When I wrote this I still underestimated what he was capable of but after his spectacular world record breaking win, my admiration for him as reached new heights. He has now become my sole emotional investment in these Olympic games. I agree with Ben English at FoxSports that Bolt exceeds Phelps as the man of the Olympics on sheer memorable performances alone. If I disregard 8 gold medals in one hand and the first man to break 100m and 200m at an Olympics in another, I’m left with an lasting image of a young Jamaican runner who toys with his competitors and sure knows how to celebrate.

My knowledge of athletics is very limited so I’ll try not to speak with too much authority on the race but I thought his performance was a perfect example of someone being in total control of their talent and ability, which is an ideal place for anyone to be in regardless of their chosen path. He dictated how he ran the race, and I wholeheartedly believe that he waited for the biggest stage to break such a prestigious world record. Most records are broken in sporting races every second meet but Michael Johnson’s 200m record stood from 1996 and before that it was last broken in 1979! Fast runners win the 100m but smart and fast runners win the 200m. Only super-humans break both world records. And I’m so happy to say I saw it live.

^_^