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'I am Lightning Bolt'

JAMES CHRISTIE

From Thursday's Globe and Mail

Latest comment posted at 12:43 AM EST 21/08/08

Out of the corner of his eye in the interview room, Olympic champion Usain Bolt caught a replay of his run. 'I was looking at myself and saying 'that guy's fast.' On the morning the world's fastest man turned 22, none would disagree ...Read the full article

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  1. B I from Toronto, Canada writes: Greatest athlete ever. Greatest Olympian ever.

    The 19.32 by Michael Johnson was the hardest record to break in track and fields.
  2. Tom h from Edmonton, Canada writes: That was incredible.

    I think Bolt and Phelps should wrestle for the title of 'Greatest Olympian Ever.'
  3. Oswaldo I from Canada writes: If Jamaica also wins the 4x100 he is the star of the games. Even surpassing Phelps.
  4. Paul, Bytown, from Canada writes: Did in a headwind!!! Incredible.

    Oh, G&M, Spearmon was DSQ. Get your story right.
  5. B I from Toronto, Canada writes: With Frater, Powell and Bolt on the 4x100 team, I think I could run one of the legs and Jamaica would still break the world record.
  6. G. Veneta from Calgary, Canada writes: BRAVO!!!! What an inspiration you are Bolt! A lightening bolt for certain with a smile that lights up the world. A great day for sport and for Jamaica. Congratulations!!
  7. Jack F from Canada writes: Impressive that he beat Johnson's record, though the headline is a little misleading. I'd hardly qualify 0.02 seconds as 'shattering'.
  8. S Lucht from Canada writes: Remarkable performances, but overall still not on the level of Michael Phelps' achievements, in my opinion.
  9. Interested Observer from United States writes: Carl Lewis tested positive for banned substances many times - including the year he took our medal from Ben Johnson - wtf?? Why is Carl Lewis allowed to keep his medals when he is an exposed cheater? Didn't the IOC recently take back a few medals from the US sprinter who admitted she cheated? Carl Lewis is a fraud and a cheat and does not deserve any recognition as an Olymic medal champion.
  10. Western Observer from Canada writes: Was the showboating necessary?
  11. Smooth Fan from Toronto, Canada writes: Do you guys realize that 19.3 / 2 = 9.65 for the first 100 m assuming he went the same speed through (in fact might have been faster for the first 100 m)...He did the 100m in 9.69 for Gold, therefore he actually broke his own record based on his time for the 200 m!!!!

    This guy is a star, great name 'Bolt' he's going to get endorsements to last him a lifetime. Good for him and representing Jamaica very well... Congrats!!
  12. Susan Rogan from Canada writes: Having some familiarity with Jamaica, I doubt Usain and his coach had anywhere near the financial and professional advantages in that most of the others had. That makes this win all the more joyful. I'm so glad he won.
  13. B T from Lost in Cyberspace, Canada writes: You BREAK a world record by a margin of 1/100 ( 0.01) of a second or less. You SHATTER a work record by a margin of 2/100 (0.02) of a second or more. Now if he did 1/10ths (0.1) of a second or faster dor something like that - what would we call it? Nuking the World Record?? Congratulations on a great accomplishment - he makes Jamaica proud!!! Shame on a terribly overstated headline - G&M makes me embarrased I subscribe!!!
  14. S M from Canada writes: Jack F 2/100th of a second is a huge win you have to remember Johnson’s record stood for 12 years.

    I am happy his record fell i have always thought he was a little too cocky for his own good.

    I love it how that has been still thinks of himself as superman.

    Good for you Bolt see you in 4 years...
  15. Sean O'Reilly from Kitchener, Canada writes: Shatter, wrong choice of words by the G&M.

    None the less, what an impressive runner. In no way should he be mentioned with Carl Lewis. What Carl Lewis did was helped by steriods, what Bolt did, is on pure god given talent.

    Only request I have is he run full out and leave the posing for after the finish line. I really want to see what he can do going full out, it will be incredible.
  16. D T from Canada writes: Smooth Fan from Toronto, Canada writes: Do you guys realize that 19.3 / 2 = 9.65 for the first 100 m ....... therefore he actually broke his own record based on his time for the 200 m!!!!

    Sorry, doesn't work that way. The start sucks up a lot of time so he will have done the second half faster. A running start will always beat one out of the blocks.
  17. G M from Canada writes: This is very impressive. When Johnson broke the 200 m record, it was the longest standing WR in track and field.

    I just don't understand how this man can get out of the blocks so fast... simply amazing.

    Not to take anything from Phelps' accomplishment, but I think Bolt's results are more impressive, simply because everyone on the planet knows how to run.

    PS. Smooth fan: your logic doesn't quite work: since you only have to accelerate once in the 200 m, dividing by 2 doesn't give the time it would have taken to cover the first 100 m. Nonetheless this is very impressive.
  18. Casey Circelli from Thornhill, Canada writes: Wow..that is inspiring. Winning 2 golds in the sprinting races and setting records in the process is incredible.

    I dunno if I can put him on the same pedestal as Phelps - 8 golds in 8 different events is ridiculous. But comparing swimming to sprinting isn't exactly apples to apples so who cares.

    Brave Usain - and I like the showboating - if you can't have fun and enjoy yourself then why bother? People need to lighten up.
  19. D T from Canada writes: Oswaldo I from Canada writes: If Jamaica also wins the 4x100 he is the star of the games. Even surpassing Phelps.

    Huh? 3 golds with 1 (maybe 2) world records surpasses 8 golds with 7 world records?
  20. so, what from and beyond, Canada writes: Great race, great athlete.

    On a different note, for all the criticisms of the paper, why are you still reading it?
  21. Paper Wait from Regina, Canada writes: RE: Do you guys realize that 19.3 / 2 = 9.65 for the first 100 m assuming he went the same speed through (in fact might have been faster for the first 100 m)...He did the 100m in 9.69 for Gold, therefore he actually broke his own record based on his time for the 200 m!!!!

    Smooth. That's not the way it works. The first 100m, which include getting out of the blocks and running the curve were probably closer to 10 seconds. The second 100m, which began with a 'flying start' would be significantly less.
  22. Richard Daystrom from Toronto, Canada writes: Great performance! I think shatter is the right word considering he ran into a 0.9m/s headwind.
  23. BUB ImumI from Canada writes: ..//

    Who is Carl Lewis?

    ..//
  24. Jim Saxon from Canada writes: This was an incredible performance and Bolt is a real hero up there with Phelps. For the sake of my children though, who seriously idolize these two, I hope fervently that no scandal breaks out of any chemical assistance in both these cases.
  25. Doug One from United States writes: What I like about this guy (aside from his name) is that he's taken the conventional wisdom about what a sprinter should look like and turned it on it's ear. He's brought back a little lustre to a sport that has been badly tarnished by cheaters and doping scandals.
  26. El Gran Chico from Etobicoke, Canada writes: Glad to see another one of Carl Lewis's 'accomplishments' fade into history.

    Mr. Bolt's victories demolished the rest of the field. Mr. Phelps won 2 of his by the skin of his teeth. Unfortunately there just aren't enough sprinting events for 8 gold medals.

    Maybe there should be a 150 m race added, or running backwards or sideways, or bunny hopping.
  27. B I from Toronto, Canada writes: D T from Canada writes: Huh? 3 golds with 1 (maybe 2) world records surpasses 8 golds with 7 world records?

    Not 'maybe 2' world records, it's already 2 and maybe 3. Phelps is advantaged by the fact that there are different types of strokes one can swim so he can win more medals. He simply has more opportunites to win medals so he does. If Bolt also had a chance to 'run' in 100m/200m skipping and running backwards, then he would probably win those too.

    The sheer universal weight of what Bolt has achieved is much bigger than winning medals in a sport restricted to a privileged few with access to Olympic sized indoor swimming pools.
  28. Yngwie J. Malmsteen from Toronto, Canada writes: Oh please - stop the bleating about Phelps being the greatest athlete ever.

    He specializes in a sport with multiple opportunities to medal.

    I would argue a decathlete is a better athlete than a swimmer...

    So while Phelps is unarguably the most accomplished Olympian in terms of winning, he is not even close to the greatest Olympic athlete.

    Does that make sense?
  29. S H from KW, Canada writes: Michael Johnson ran a 19.32s with a 0.4m/s wind at this back... Usain Bolt ran a 19.30s INTO a 0.9m/s headwind! I'm sure that there's a precise scientific formula to translate a raw time to an adjusted time, but from what I've seen, each 0.2m/s equals about 0.01s in time over the short distance races.

    So, if Michael Johnson's time was adjusted for no aid from the wind, he would have run a 19.34s. And Usain Bolt would've run an amazing 19.26s or even a 19.25s.

    Almost one-tenth of a second??? I'd qualify that as a 'shattering'...
  30. Canada's worth saving from Canada writes: Bolt's performances have been amazing. Both Donovan Bailey and Michael Johnson have been very gracious in their commentary as well.
    For you gabbers railing about Carl Lewis, get your facts straight. In 2003 it was revealed that the USOC cleared 100 atheletes to compete in Seoul who had tested positive for banned substances. In Carl Lewis' case, they were common stimulants found in over the counter cold remedies ... not steroids. Clearing your sinuses is not the same as shooting Dianabol. Lewis was a great competitor and advocate for track athletes being able to earn a living at their profession rather than continue in poverty under an artificially imposed standard of 'amateurism'. What's with all the haters?
  31. Robin M from Canada writes: What a delight to watch.. an unforgettable perforance by a young man who has wowed the world even more than Michael Phelps I would say. There is just something magical about the way he won those races as if this is just the beginning, that those 41 strides in the 100 metres and then breaking another world record in the 200 metres today, somehow means more than Michael Phelps win of 8 gold medals in the swimming. Perhaps it is just the physiology and beauty of the human being that comes through when Bolt is running. He won with such ease and grace and lightness of spirit it infected all the other runners who participated in that 200 metres. Let us hope his instant fame doesn't go to his head as he has so much more in him to delight the world with. Bravo Usain, bravo.. two unforgettable events we will all remember...
  32. James Ozon from Calgary, Canada writes: Bolt of lightning to be sure. Donovan Baily says that this young man will probably run a 9.55 this year.
  33. Gogh Forit from Canada writes: If Usain Bolt has clipped a full second off the world record time then that would have earned the headline 'shattered'. Yes, he is the new world record holder and likely can run it faster than he did but to clip two one-hundreths of a second off the time is hardly 'shattering' .
  34. Smooth Fan from Toronto, Canada writes: Hey guys,
    Thanks for noting the diff b/w leaving the block and being in full stride. You're right, his 2nd half of the 200 would be faster... I was just speculating because he DID slow down at the end of the 100m. I suspect he can beat his own time, probably saving himself for the next olympics to break his own record! :)

    Great race!!
  35. B I from Toronto, Canada writes: Canada's worth saving from Canada writes: USOC cleared 100 atheletes to compete in Seoul who had tested positive for banned substances.

    USOC has also cleared Jerome Young, Antonio Pettigrew, Dennis Mitchell and Marion Jones - all of whom were shooting up with performance enhancing drugs. USOC clearling Carl Lewis doesn't mean much, but I do agree with you that his self-marketing ability is a great example for all amateur athletes to do better for themselves. His athletic accomplishments however, will always be accompanied by a reputation asterisk.
  36. Pepper Gee from Toronto, Canada writes: How wonderful for Mr. Bolt and for Jamaica!
  37. Interested Observer from United States writes: Carl Lewis also tested possitive for STEROIDS. Canada do you remember Silken Lauman? Argably Canada's most determined athlete - Silken Suzette Laumann Wiki: 1992 Summer Olympics. One of the odds-on favourites to capture a gold medal, her shell was involved in a collision with the boat of German coxless pair on May 15, 1992. Despite horrendous injuries to her leg (in her words, in her words, 'I looked at the leg for a few seconds and knew it was serious when my muscle was hanging at my ankle and I could see the bone'[1]), five operations and a total stay in the hospital of approximately three weeks, Laumann was back on the water training by late June. Her efforts paid off with a bronze medal, and she was subsequently named Canadian of the Year by the Canadian Club in recognition and was selected to carry the Canadian Flag in the closing ceremonies of the Olympics. After a one-year absence to allow the injury to further heal, Laumann resumed competing in 1994, and she won a silver at the 1995 World Championships. She also won a gold medal as part of a quad sculls team at the 1995 Pan American Games, but was subsequently stripped of the medals after testing positive for pseudoephedrine (which she accidentally ingested due to a mix-up in what cold medicine she could safely use).
  38. J L from Toronto, Canada writes: The Globe should report the full results of the race at the end of the article - it's really annoying when they only post the winning time.
  39. Ned Chiwalski from Oilgary, Canada writes: Good on him! The race was a joy to watch.
    And as for the showboating, this guy deserves to. What he has done is no small feat, and after watching him in interviews, he seems to be a genuinly happy and cheery fellow!
  40. Don Johnson from Calgary, Canada writes: If Johnson thinks Bolt's start was great, he should watch the replay of Bailey's start against him in the Skydome head-to-head race
  41. Doug Dewan from Canada writes: Not bad and even with all the pollution in the air in China...maybe there's somethin in the air that makes ya run faster! hmmmm.
  42. Howard Young from Canada writes: Isn't the Gatorade symbol a lightning bolt? A marketing match made in heaven.

    I don't care that he was grandstanding, at least he is able to back it up. If I were standing on top of the world for a brief moment in time I think I would do a little dance as well.

    I think the stuff at the beginning was done to try and psych out his opponents. It reminds of Babe Ruth pointing to the bleachers with his bat and following it up with a homerun.
  43. Jim Hester from Canada writes: Jamaica's tremendous success at these Olympics will almost certainly eclipse Canada's. Given our wealth as a nation and population you'd think we'd do a little better than we do. Maybe instead of looking for Drs and Engineers to drive cabs we should look for athletes. Well done Jamaica and Usain Bolt!!!!
  44. Rod Rigging from O-Kville, Canada writes: I happy the way the 200 turned out. Good kid from Jamaica won and a pinhead from the United States was disqualified.

    After seeing Wallace Spearman finish first in his heat then gesture to his competition with a brushing stroke off his shoulder showing his contempt for them....I was really happy that such poor sportmanship behavior got sequal reward.

    I suggest Mr Aspearman watch 'My Name is Earl' and see what he can do to alter his Karma.
  45. K L from Toronto, Canada writes: Hooray for Usain Bolt! My husband and I laugh every time we watch him run...he doesn't even look like he's trying and he blows everybody away. The showboating is fun - good for him for having a good time!
  46. TKO from Ontario from Poland writes: Nuff Respekt!

    This is HUGE, considering that nobody has run sub 19.5 since Michael Johnson...12 years ago, @ 19.32 in Atl. This was the longest standing record in track.

    So much for poor air quality in Beijing, @ sea level with 0.9m/s headwind.

    My heart rejoices for Jamaica, but my wallet aches.
    (Damn you $10 friendly wagers).

    Records are meant to be broken.
  47. Jack F from Canada writes: The ease with which Bolt has won is the most astounding thing. Bailey, for one, commented on the heats leading up to the 100m final, that Bolt basically hadn't exerted himself yet and therefore still had a full tank of energy. As compared to the other competitors who had to go all out in the heats just to qualify for the finals. Just amazing.

    Though Bolt was more dominant in his finals, I still think Phelps is the story of these games. Not only did he win the eight golds, but with all the heats and semi-finals, he ended up racing 17 times in under one week. That's insane! It's amazing to me that he had anything left in the tank at all to claim those golds.
  48. N G from Toronto, Canada writes: To anyone who actually follows, or was ever involved in track and field, beating this world record by 2/100 is a huge accomplishment. Usain Bolt is truly the World's Fastest Man.

    Congrats to Bolt and bring on the well-deserved sponsorship dollars!
  49. J VO from Milwaukee, United States writes: I would suggest that breaking world records in swimming right now is not a very impressive feat as current records are standing for months...maybe with the technological developments in swim suits that are purported to reduce swim times by at least 2%. Breaking an over decade standing world record using the same equipment is a much more impressive feat in my eyes.
  50. carol c from Canada writes: Who's better, Phelps or Bolt, who's the best? Who cares? Just enjoy the achievements of each of them, it's a beautiful sight.
  51. Ryan M from Ottawa, Canada writes: Truly amazing performance. He makes it look too easy...those strides are ridiculously long, there is no way anyone was catching him on the straight stretch.

    As for those commenting on Michael Johnson's arrogance - not sure if you all were watching the same 100m and 200m finals as I was, but I wouldn't exactly say that Bolt comes across as the most modest athlete around. His antics and comments following would suggest he's pretty cocky. Not saying he doesn't have a right to be, just calling it lke it is.

  52. Eat Your Weedies from Canada writes: Temporarily enough to make an Olympics cynic like me stop and jump on board! Seems Bolt is a nice fellow and the ease of his wins and his 'greenness' make him really heartening. There is nothing like bravado to spoil a show. Just ask the Americans (or the Italians...)
  53. E T from Canada writes: Quibbling over 'shattered' is just silly. Usain Bolt broke track and field's most imposing world record under very poor conditions -- it's an amazing feat. One must also give Michael Johnson his due for the record he set in Atlanta -- a record the entire athletic community put on par with Bob Beamon's 1968 long jump mark which stood for more than two decades years before being matched.

    All the more remarkable is the fact that Johnson's 1996 race was absolutely perfect. Perfect start. Perfect turn. Perfect form. Perfect track. Perfect wind conditions. Perfect cadence never faltered and his perfect stride never shortened (a testament to Johnson's superlative speed endurance, which is yet to be matched by anyone). Bolt's race had a good start on an excellent track with a brilliant turn, but his form was breaking down in the home stretch and he was running INTO the wind. Bolt is only 22. He's still raw in many ways. I can't imagine what he might accomplish over the next five to seven years if he can stay healthy and further refine his excellent technique....

    I did not think that Johnson's incredible run would be matched for 30 years. Luckily, Usain Bolt didn't agree. It's a pleasure to see this kid do his thing.
  54. A non-Imus from Canada writes: I can't wait for the men's 4x100m on Friday. Then Bolt gets to go all out...beginning upright...with a running start. Yikes! Will the Jamaicans shatter the U.S. men's world record? Don't bet against it.
  55. B I from Toronto, Canada writes: To the small but vocal minority who constantly bash CBC and wish we were American, I just learned from New York Times that NBC was showing volleyball - U.S. v. Serbia - during the historic 200m finals. Once again we were on par with the vast majority of the world, many Americans unfortunately missed the boat.

    Well done once again, CBC.
  56. r b from calgary, Canada writes: Did someone ask who's accomplishments are greater - Bolt's or Phelps'? Are you kidding me?

    Swimmers get to contest for these masses of medals only because of the different swimming styles that are swum - the so-called 'medleys'.

    It would be akin to having 4 different 100 meter sprints - freestyle (forwards presumably), then a sprint backwards, then maybe with both arms tied behind your back, then maybe when you have to swoop your arms in a 'butterfly' style.

    Phelps is a great athlete, phenomenal really. And his accomplishments do not rely on judging for 'style' or 'artistic grace'.

    But having said that, it is not even close - Bolt is the fastest human ever, and every person understands the concept of running a sprint: get to the finish line as fast as possible. Hope he's clean, but if not, no matter - almost assuredly the rest of the field is juiced anyways.

    As we used to say, that guy can really pick them up and put them down! And then some.
  57. craig fister from Canada writes: all the posters who suggest that Bolt's performance does not meet Phelps' consider what he would do if there were 8 races for him to run??? ... also, Phelps had 2 relays ...
    give Bolt 8 sprint races and he may well match Phelps ... then consider that most humans can run, and only some can swim (and I mean actually 'swim' not just bob around in the water), and his accomplishments are even more impressive. not suggesting for a moment that Phelps' accomplishments are anything short of incredible, but a little like comparing Gretzky's accomplishments to Michael Jordan's ...
    if pressed to pick only one 'best' performance in the Olympics, I'll take Bolt's anytime!
  58. Thomas Morris from New York, NY, United States writes: Phelps wouldn't even be mentioned in this string if he weren't american - you silly insecure canadians. And the CBC vs NBC comment is hilarious. Please, please, reach inside and feel your worth - it's laughable when you try so hard to.
  59. andy c from Canada writes: B I: during Bolt's 100m race NBC was showing mens basketball which featured the U.S team crushing Spain. the first reply was 12 hours later.
  60. Dallas Green from Canada writes: One runs, one swims. Cmon guys drop it. I like bolt more because he does cool dances.
  61. Guy Olivier from Columbus, Ohio, United States writes: Phelps has accomplished something remarkable to say the least, winning eight medals is fantastic. But, because he is American I realize it's difficult for Canadians (which I am one) to be in praise of those accomplishments... that's pretty petty I think.
  62. Justin Kase from Victoria, Canada writes: Bolt is on homegrown designers. Just give it a few years for the testers to catch up.
  63. John Northey from Georgetown, Canada writes: As to longest standing record, the women's 100 meter's has stood a bit longer (1988 - 20 years now) and will stand for a long time - 10.49 when the 2nd best (by someone other than the record holder) is 10.65 and the best non-rumoured drug assisted time is 10.73.

    Bolt has done amazing though. Running the 100 in .1 seconds faster than Ben Johnson, doing the 200 in .02 seconds faster than Michael Johnson. I just can't help but wonder though given Ben was on drugs and Michael ran with druggies (2 of the 4 man relay in 98-2000 admitted to it). One hopes Bolt is clean but odds are we'll always have that question. Sigh.
  64. Al Fresco from Finlay, Flanigan and a corrupt Financial offer to Cadman, Canada writes: Bolt really is quite amazing.
  65. Frank Streicher from halifax, Canada writes: Yes, but is he clean? In today's 'Spiegel' German athlete Tobias Unger claims that the testing program in Jamaica is such a joke that, according to him, there is something highly suspicious going on, especially given that within one year Bolt managed to go from a personal best of 10.03 seconds to 9.69 seconds. Other athletes and trainers mentioned in the article also doubt that the 100m is a clean race. It could well be a matter of sour grapes. Still, some suspition is bound to arise.
  66. Alistair McLaughlin from Canada writes: Someone just posted last week that Michael Johnston's 19.32 world record in the 200 might not be broken for 30 years or more. I guess it is athletes like this guy who make the Olympics worth watching.
  67. Alston Fergusson from Sherbrooke, Canada writes: I have a problem with rating Phelps the 'greatest Olympian ever'. Swimming makes arbitrary distinctions among styles providing multiple opportunties to earn gold medals for doing essentially the same thing which is getting from one end of the pool to the other as fast as possible.

    For a track athlete to have as many medal earning opportunities one would have to design races with hands tied behind the back and another running backward. If Phelps had won freestyle races at multiple lengths from say, 100 to 800, I would award him the crown. Note too that he is not the first swimmer to garner a looter's haul of gold medals at the same or multiple Olympics. We just aren't comparing apples with apples when we compare swimmers or, say, gymnasts with track stars.
  68. R W from Canada writes: Smooth Fan from Toronto, Canada writes: Do you guys realize that 19.3 / 2 = 9.65 for the first 100 m assuming he went the same speed through (in fact might have been faster for the first 100 m)...He did the 100m in 9.69 for Gold, therefore he actually broke his own record based on his time for the 200 m!!!!

    ------------------------------------------------
    That was Micheal Johnson's theory in his claim to being the fastest man that prompted his 150m race with Bailey. Well, we saw what happened there.
  69. Brent Forrest from Vancouver, Canada writes: Mr. Thomas Morris - I don't think anyone cares the difference of whether Phelps is American. When Ian Thorpe was doing his thing in the pool the discussions were the same.

    I know historically the Summer Games are dominated by the Americans; but when are Americans going to get over themselves and realize that there can be other countries (Jamaica apparently) who are also capable of being the story of the Summer games?

    Both are excellent performances that we were all lucky to be alive to witness. Perhaps they will have a 50m race, 100m race, 150m race, 200m race, and 250 m race with relays for all lengths as well next olympic so we can actually put Phelps and Bolt in the same comparitive equation.
    I hate the negativity that always follows what is meant to be an informative article. If you don't like the angle G&M takes why don't you get your news somewhere else?

    Bravo Bolt AND Phelps for this Olympics will go down as one of the greatest due to both of your accomplishments.
  70. Alistair McLaughlin from Canada writes: I agree that labelling Phelps the greatest Olympian ever is a little much. That is because I am the greatest Olympian ever. I just chose not to participate (too busy - didn't feel like it). As for this Bolt fellow - 200 metres in 19.30 seconds? Wuss.
  71. D T from Canada writes: Alston Fergusson from Sherbrooke, Canada writes: Swimming makes arbitrary distinctions among styles providing multiple opportunties to earn gold medals for doing essentially the same thing which is getting from one end of the pool to the other as fast as possible.

    Plus other posts along the same lines .. all obviously made by non-swimmers who don't understand the huge differences between the strokes.

    To make the same argument against Bolt ... why isn't he running the hurdles? It's just another 'style' of running.
  72. David Gehring from Kingston, Ontario, Canada writes: Two reasons why Bolt is a better Olympian than Phelps... One: Running is a superior sport to swimming: Bolt won the marquee event of the ENTIRE Olympics (men's 100m sprint) whereas Phelps won a boatload of medals in some insignificant events that have been overcategorized (like do you really have to hold events for four different strokes plus every distance for each plus solos, relays for each plus medleys? If anything, Phelps should have to win 16 medals to equal Bolt's 2). Two: Pending the test results, Bolt broke the records and won the medals with less cheating. While neither Bolt nor Phelps will likely be caught for HGH or steroids, it's pretty obvious that swimming is now overrun with athletes growing their bodies in a strange unnatural way never seen before. Not that I'm saying Bolt isn't on something either, but guess which athlete has more resources and laboratories working for him.
  73. Bobby S from Toronto, Canada writes: 'Tom h from Edmonton, Canada writes: That was incredible.

    I think Bolt and Phelps should wrestle for the title of 'Greatest Olympian Ever.' '

    C'mon people let's not lose perspective here. Both of these athletes have accomplished great things, but no one will ever come close to what Jesse Owens accomplished at the 1936 Olympics. He won 4 gold medals and broke 4 world records in front of Hitler and Nazi Germany. I'm positive that the pressures he faced were much greater than either Bolt or Phelps could have ever endured.
  74. B I from Toronto, Canada writes: Alistair McLaughlin from Canada writes: Someone just posted last week that Michael Johnston's 19.32 world record in the 200 might not be broken for 30 years or more. I guess it is athletes like this guy who make the Olympics worth watching. I didn't think it was going to happen either. The next closest anyone came was 19.62 in the last 12 years and nobody other than Johnson has run it under 19.60. The chart below shows the fastest 200M, followed by the wind level, competitor, country and year/venue. Bolt ran this time into a stronger head wind than any of the top 10 times ever run in this event. 1. 19.30 −0.9 Usain Bolt Jamaica 2. 19.32 0.4 Michael Johnson United States 1996 Atlanta 3. 19.62 −0.3 Tyson Gay United States 24 June 2007 Indianapolis 4. 19.63 0.4 Xavier Carter United States 11 July 2006 Lausanne 5. 19.65 ±0.0 Wallace Spearmon United States 28 September 2006 Daegu 6. 19.68 0.4 Frank Fredericks Namibia 1 August 1996 Atlanta 7. 19.69 0.9 Walter Dix United States 26 May 2007 Gainesville 8. 19.72 1.8 Pietro Mennea Italy 12 September 1979 Mexico City 9. 19.73 −0.2 Michael Marsh United States 5 August 1992 Barcelona 10. 19.75 1.5 Carl Lewis United States 19 June 1983 Indianapolis 1.8 Joe DeLoach United States 28 September 1988 Seoul
  75. B I from Toronto, Canada writes: D T from Canada writes: To make the same argument against Bolt ... why isn't he running the hurdles? It's just another 'style' of running.

    Because that involves jumping, which is a different discipline. It's like asking why Phelps is not in diving?
  76. D T from Canada writes: B I from Toronto, Canada writes: D T from Canada writes:' To make the same argument against Bolt ... why isn't he running the hurdles? It's just another 'style' of running.

    Because that involves jumping, which is a different discipline. It's like asking why Phelps is not in diving? '

    I would argue that running hurdles is no more different than straight running, than the butterfly is to the breaststroke.
  77. D T from Canada writes: I would argue that Bolt's breakthrough performance is due to a systemic failure in training for the sprints. The latest generation of sprinters have too much upper body strength and the unnecessary weight that goes with it, in the mistaken notion that the arms play a bigger role than they actually do.

    Bolt has what I think will become the new norm in sprint physique; tall and well proportioned without an overdeveloped upper body.
  78. B I from Toronto, Canada writes: D T from Canada writes: I would argue that running hurdles is no more different than straight running, than the butterfly is to the breaststroke.

    Really? And when during breaststrokes does a swimmer have to dodge over/under a hard medal object? Do you wonder why hurdlers usually don't take part in any other events? Because the jumping dynamic is a lot different than you think and takes more out of a runner's body than breaststrokes obviously does for a swimmer because 45 minutes later he is ready to do another event. You accuse others of not swimming, clearly, you have never hurdled.
  79. E T from Canada writes: Sheesh, so much angst about Phelps. Phelps is the most successful gold-medal Olympian of all time ... that doesn't change just because he's a swimmer instead of a runner. For my money, I'd say the 'greatest' Olympian was Phelp's countryman, Jesse Owens, whose performances were about much, much more than records, medals and sponsorship opportunities.

    The apples-to-oranges question you might ask is who performed the greatest athletic feats at the Beijing Games -- and the arbitrary answer (sez me) would be that Bolt's supreme dominance in the sprints are the most remarkable ... but that's just an opinion.

    Kuddos to Mr. Phelps whose incredible training, skill and natural talents have yielded the greatest medal haul in Olympic history. Kuddos to Mr. Bolt whose two sprint wins have been the most lop-sided we've ever seen in a low-tech, widely contested event.
  80. J R from Vancouver, Canada writes: D T from canada 'Huh? 3 golds with 1 (maybe 2) world records surpasses 8 golds with 7 world records? '

    Yes, athletics is a sport that EVERY social class in every country in the world actively participates in. You do not need a nice expensive cool pool to train in. The competition level for athletics is far higher. Jamaican sprinters are awesome, as are Kenyan and Ethiopian middle and long distance runners.
  81. Guy Olivier from Columbus, Ohio, United States writes: 'J R from Vancouver, Canada writes: Yes, athletics is a sport that EVERY social class in every country in the world actively participates in. You do not need a nice expensive cool pool to train in.'

    OK, Canadian and other northern countrie sled and ski teams should start training in Jamaica for the next winter olympics. Fair is fair by your standards, right?
  82. cool breeze from Canada writes: they are both beasts!!!

    if my life depended on a bias...i'd pick Bolt...see, they are both winners...but my pick is based purely on the manner he did it
  83. Michael Rudin from NY, United States writes: When Phelps won his last medal, most of what I read in the G&M was that he probably was a doper. Now a non US athlete wins and if the issue is raised, the write is smacked down. I do not beleive Bolt is a doper nor is Phelps, but it is interesting most that when an American wins, doping is the first thing our freinds from Canada think about. We of course know no non American athlete would ever dope.
  84. ted canadian from victoria, Canada writes: Good job for you.
    and we are in BC are working hard to break new record a place with drug's or homeless, or crime. and expensive cost of the living until winter Olympic 2010 will end . which %50 of are population going to be came homeless or move out from BC.
  85. J R from Vancouver, Canada writes: Guy Oliver from Ohio 'OK, Canadian and other northern countrie sled and ski teams should start training in Jamaica for the next winter olympics. Fair is fair by your standards, right? '

    No they don't have to go to Jamaica to train. Top skiers are the best skiiers in the world, but skiing is not a significant sport throughout the world, or even within Canada, as it does not have all that many participants. Very few Canadians ski, play hockey, or figure skate. Even less people do that is you look at the world as a whole. Athletics is the greatest sport in the world, both by participation, and because we were built to run.
  86. D T from Canada writes: J R from Vancouver, Canada writes: Athletics is the greatest sport in the world, both by participation, and because we were built to run.

    I don't understand. By athletics, do you mean running?

    What makes you think we weren't built to swim? The pattern of hair growth on the human body and the downward orientation of our nostrils have been argued to be signs that we spent at least part of our evolution as shore dwellers/swimmers.

    Competitive sprint training requires constant access to a track so its not really the sport for the masses that you make it out to be.
  87. Alston Fergusson from Sherbrooke, Canada writes: Have any of you swimming apologists noticed that among the many races Phelps won some were labelled 'Freestyle'. In those races a swimmer is free to swim in any style he chooses and he usually chooses to swim the Australian crawl. This raises the question as to whether the other styles, all of which are slower, are not simply arbitrary ways of awarding more medal opportunities to swimmers. Of course, none of this is Phelps fault. He simply took advantage of the multiple opportunities presented, however arbitrary.

    The competitions is about speed and we know the fastest way for a swimmer to move in water is the crawl so why these other strokes? We don't have them for track events. By the way, a hurdle race is an obstacle event as is a steeplechase.
  88. kostas vasilakis from brampton, Canada writes: im glad bolts daddy taught him the virtues of being humble, modest, a good sportsman etc.... i am sure he will be an excellent role model.

    Great achievement, too bad the gold runners don't come with some class.
  89. D T from Canada writes: Alston Fergusson from Sherbrooke, Canada writes: This raises the question as to whether the other styles, all of which are slower, are not simply arbitrary ways of awarding more medal opportunities to swimmers.

    Hmmmm. You mean like having 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, etc. in running? And how did running, the supposedly all-natural sport, become so specialized that it's considered wonderful for someone to win both the 100m and 200m?

    But of course you're right. There's an international conspiracy of swimmers looking for ways to generate more medal opportunities. LOL
  90. Richard Daystrom from Toronto, Canada writes: John Northey from Georgetown, Canada writes: As to longest standing record, the women's 100 meter's has stood a bit longer (1988 - 20 years now) and will stand for a long time - 10.49 when the 2nd best (by someone other than the record holder) is 10.65 and the best non-rumoured drug assisted time is 10.73. Bolt has done amazing though. Running the 100 in .1 seconds faster than Ben Johnson, doing the 200 in .02 seconds faster than Michael Johnson. I just can't help but wonder though given Ben was on drugs and Michael ran with druggies (2 of the 4 man relay in 98-2000 admitted to it). One hopes Bolt is clean but odds are we'll always have that question. Sigh. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- If you plot the progession of the women's 100m record, then Flo-Jo's time is so far ahead that the term 'outlier' doesn't even begin to do it justice. The same can be said of her suspicious improvements over the course of a couple of years leading up to Seoul. I'd put her record in the same category as Barry Bonds' HR record although he was juicing long before MLB tested for it. I actually think Bolt is clean. The guy is huge (6'-5') and once he gets going that stride eats up the track.
  91. Nick Vlahos from Chicago, United States writes: Good for Mr. Bolt. I just hope he's clean. At least Phelps has a track record (no pun intended). When a guy comes out of nowhere to do what Bolt has done, it does raise some questions.
  92. Brent Forrest from Vancouver, Canada writes: kostas vasilakis from brampton, Canada writes: im glad bolts daddy taught him the virtues of being humble, modest, a good sportsman etc.... i am sure he will be an excellent role model.

    Great achievement, too bad the gold runners don't come with some class.

    ...and you are in position to question the level of excitement of being crowned the fastest man ever on this earth? You wouldn't be dancing and celebrating realizing, what I'm sure is, his ultimate goal?

    When people are happy, they react differently. Jealousy has no place in this world. Congratulations prude. You must be the life of any party you attend..... not.
  93. Matt O from Toronto, Ontario, Canada writes: Something I find interesting in the Phelps-Bolt debate:

    A lot of people (including American commentators) have been describing Phelps as something of a physical 'freak' in order to explain his success: his double-jointedness, big feet, whatever.

    This is the same kind of talk that was generated after the '36 Olympic following the success of Jesse Owens and other black athletes...somehow these black men were also 'freaks', physically built to run and jump because they came from a 'savage' environemnt. We're all pretty ashamed of what was said then, so when it comes to Bolt, nobody would dare call him a physical 'freak'. Other than his height, his physical form is barely mentioned.

    I wouldn't go so far as to call this 'reverse racism', as I hate that term. I just find it interesting. I think those of us on the sane side of the pool can agree that it's a combination of natural physical gifts and unbelievably intense training that makes a gold-medal athlete.
  94. Alston Fergusson from Sherbrooke, Canada writes: I agree with the person who questions in Seoul. Only an ostrich with head firmly buried in the sand would believe that a sprinter could become a world beater at age 27, totally blowing away people like Evelyn Ashford who had beaten her throughout their previous athletic career. Other things that made Flo Jo's achievements suspect were her boundless energy ( she tried to gain a place in the 4 X 400 relay after winning the 100, 200 and anchoring the winning 4 X 100 relay); her demeanour on winning the 100 which was very similar to Ben Johnson's; the fact her coach who claimed to have discovered a new training technique (sic) has never trained another Olympic champion.

    I would be very surprised if Bolt or the other Jamaican winners this year test positive for PEDs since they were subjected to unprecedented scrutiny by the Olympic testing authorities before and during these games. The rationale for this is that Jamaica does not have an in-country testing program. That is ironic since the US has an extensive one but has now admitted letting man