Beijing 2008 - Golden double for awesome Bolt

Eurosport - Thu, 21 Aug 05:08:00 2008

Jamaica's Usain Bolt became the first man to win the Olympic sprint double with two world records when he blazed to 200 metres gold in 19.30 seconds.

ATHLETICS - USAIN BOLT - JAMAICA - PEKIN - OLYMPIC GAMES - 200 - 0

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The 21-year-old, who eased up before setting a record of 9.69 in the 100m on Saturday, allowed himself no such indulgence in the longer race and dipped over the line to take two hundredths of a second off Michael Johnson's 1996 mark.

"It's great, I have a great feeling, it is a dream come true," Bolt said. "I never expected this. I knew the track was a fast track but I didn't think this was possible. I'm still shocked.

"I have been aspiring to the world record for so long. I have been saying all season that 200 means a lot more to me than 100. I've been dreaming of this since way back."

Defending champion Shawn Crawford of the US took the silver in 19.96 after Churandy Martina of Netherlands Antilles was disqualified for running out of his lane and American Walter Dix got the bronze in 19.98.

Crawford and Dix finished fourth and fifth in the race but earned their medals because their compatriot Wallace Spearmon was also disqualified for stepping out of his lane.

For the second time in five days, though, the Bird's Nest belonged to the super-cool Bolt who celebrates his 22nd birthday on Thursday.

He struck a series of poses as the television cameras settled on him before he took to his blocks but again he got away cleanly and was well clear of his rivals by the halfway point.

There was no showboating over the final stages, however, and he maintained his form and loping stride before sneaking a glance at the clock as crossed the line about seven metres clear of Martina.

"It's ridiculous," said former 100 metres world champion Kim Collins, who finished last. "He's doing it and making it look so simple. It's brutal. It's a brutal ass-whipping we took."

Jamaican Prime Minister Bruce Golding led the plaudits for Bolt and said he was considering declaring a national holiday in honour of his achievements.

"We're going to wait until the Games are over because we have more gold medals to win," Golding told Reuters by telephone.

"Usain Bolt is a super human being. The world has never seen anything like him."

American Carl Lewis was the last man to win both sprints at the same Games in Los Angeles in 1984 and Bolt became just the ninth athlete to achieve the feat.

The previous world record of 19.32 was set by American Johnson in the 1996 Olympic final.

Reuters

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  1. Well i was reading in a spanish magazine today when a­ german atlete by name Tobias Unger states the he think­ bolt is cheating and that before race he dont warm up­ and the way is fast is ridiculous and also that jamaica­ dont have a anti/doping control office, well i said to­ myself is there ever a time that the german ever seen­ something great in a black man well your hitlers­ thought about black as being pulled down long ago in­ his eyes my Mr owens. so go train harder you Tobias­ Unger

    From ralph, on Wed 20 Aug 6:55PM

  2. big up Bolt you are so great well i would love to also­ wish asafa powell luck and i sincerly think and hope­ that bolt will still break his own records so soon­ juadging with the way he ends his race. PUSH UP THE­ LIGHTER THEM BOLT INNA DE HOUSE GBUMMMMMMM

    From ralph, on Wed 20 Aug 6:37PM

  3. Bolt you made young people to understand that natural­ talents and practice have nothing to do with a special­ built sports centre. Hope the young children will look­ up to you and take to running and other sports and­ reduce anti-social behaviours and drug taking.Chief­ Okadigbo J I Nwabueze, Scientist, England Uk

    From jinwabueze, on Wed 20 Aug 6:34PM

  4. Am i Impressed...not at all.Athletics has been bogged­ down by so many drug cheats such that all outstanding­ feats are being doubted...

    From olabisimakanjuola, on Wed 20 Aug 6:30PM

  5. Truly Amazing Big Up Bruv...BOLT

    From mquaye39, on Wed 20 Aug 6:25PM

  6. Truly Amazing Big Up Bruv...BOLT

    From mquaye39, on Wed 20 Aug 6:25PM

  7. CONGRATULATIONS to BOLT.
    I rate Bolt(now) and Michael­ johnson(then) on about the same level. Watch the video­ of Johnson breaking the record, he runs­ upstraight..thats his style. Then compare that with­ Bolt, he dipped at the end (which he never does) to­ make sure he secured that record. This dip could have­ made up for the o.o2 second difference in the­ records.
    However as Bolt matures and gets into his­ performance prime, i can guarantee you 9.30 will be­ nothing for him.
    LEGENDS.!

    From NanaN, on Wed 20 Aug 6:06PM

  8. He can easily shave it to 19.20!

    From Serwah, on Wed 20 Aug 6:03PM

  9. With only coconut jelly water and rice,u can set new­ world records,iwonder what would have happened if u­ took steriods.my boy u are now ordained as­ "BALLISTC BOLT",so keep up with your routine­ trainig and please ensure you defend your recrds well­ until u retire in dignity.well done as u have made all­ of us africans(your ancestral home),proud as well.

    From mondeh, on Wed 20 Aug 5:57PM

  10. Usain'YOU ARE TOO MUCH'
    From; Sylvester Anyogo­ in Nigeria.

    From Anyogo, on Wed 20 Aug 5:45PM

  11. it's a bit racist to single out only black athletes­ for praise. i enjoyed watching ALL athletes no matter­ the colour or nationality.

    From fergie, on Wed 20 Aug 5:37PM

  12. I am proud of you Bolt!! keep going!!!

    From winter, on Wed 20 Aug 5:37PM
  13. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Truly amazing, EXCEPT. Somehow Michael Johnson was a­ really quick athlete. As so many before hi, With Bolt­ it's like watching a freak of nature. It takes the­ "Special Performance," aspect out of it.­ Winning the 100 with a shoe lace undone and stopping­ just after half way, well it ends sprinting for the­ foreseeable future. I used to enjoy it because more­ then one person could win. Even when the drug cheat­ Carl Lewis was racing the drug cheat Linford Christie­ and others at that time, there was always the chance­ that someone other then Lewis could win, and the­ finishes could be close.

    Now it is just going to be­ like watching a freak from another planet race mere­ mortals. As a spectator and lover of athletics, for me,­ the sprints are now not worth watching unless you like­ Charlie Chaplin movies

    From trouble, on Wed 20 Aug 5:34PM

  14. he could be even be faster and have a better record in­ 100m if he would not celebrate the wining before­ finishing his match!!

    From B G, on Wed 20 Aug 5:32PM

  15. only one Bolt.. Beijing see him,the world see­ him...jamaica have him.....we call him double Bolt...we­ must not forget to big up the rest of the squad..the­ ones that did'nt win, done wonderful,and those who­ are winners is just magnificent..

    From Lee, on Wed 20 Aug 5:32PM

  16. Again, well done Lightning Bolt!!!! Happy 22nd b-day­ 2morrow! With regards to negative comments grow up and­ show some respect to others.

    From Matt D, on Wed 20 Aug 5:32PM

  17. WELL DONE!!!!!

    From JayZc, on Wed 20 Aug 5:28PM

  18. Well done Usain bolt.A stunning and remarkable­ run.Amazing.Congratulations bolt and Jamaica!!!

    From selvakumar316, on Wed 20 Aug 5:26PM

  19. What an amazing athlete... The 200m he ran was a one­ man, no two man race. Lightning Bolt was racing Micheal­ Johnson the world record holder! Respect to the other­ athletes, but, unfortunately for them this guy is in a­ different league altogether, as Colin Jackson said,­ "He is unique".

    From Matt D, on Wed 20 Aug 5:26PM

  20. AT 21 THIS IS FAST. WITH MORE MATURITY, I CAN SEE BOLT­ BREAKING HIS OWN RECORD. WELL DONE

    From deltaforce224, on Wed 20 Aug 5:21PM
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