Beijing 2008 - Bolt could have gone faster - coach

Eurosport - Wed, 27 Aug 15:13:00 2008

Triple Olympic gold medallist and world record holder Usain Bolt could have run the 100 metres in 9.52 seconds if he had not slowed to celebrate, according to his coach.

ATHLETICS 2008 Beijing 2008 Men's 200 m final Usain Bolt - 0

Glen Mills said Bolt, who electrified Beijing with his sprint victories, was at the start of his 100 career and would peak only in about two years' time.

"If he had continued, the slowest he would have run would have been 9.52," Mills saidahead of Friday's Weltklasse athletics meeting in Zurich, where Bolt is due to run the 100.

"This is his first year of running the 100 metres," Mills said. "In two more years he should be peaking at this distance and by then I am certain he will be down to there."

Bolt set a world record of 9.69 seconds in the 100, and was so far ahead of the field that he slowed before the end to celebrate.

Bolt then broke Michael Johnson's 12-year-old mark in the 200 and added a third gold by contributing to a world record for Jamaica in the 4x100 relay.

On Friday, Bolt will face the two men who won medals behind him in the Beijing 100, Richard Thompson of Trinidad & Tobago and American Walter Dix.

Other Beijing winners on show in Zurich include women's pole vault champion Yelena Isinbayeva and Kenenisa Bekele of Ethiopia, who won the men's 5,000 and 10,000 metres.

"I've had some sleep since I've been here so I'm not tired. I'm trying to get my blood pumping again," Bolt said.

He declined to speculate on what time he might run on Friday.

"I don't think you can really set another goal after doing that at the Olympics," said Bolt, who turned 22 the day after his 200 Beijing win. "I'm just trying to get to the end of the season, injury free, and go home and enjoy myself."

Reuters

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  1. i believe that bolt can break the 9.50 secs barrier today,if athletes are permited to make two false starts and not the present one false start.

    From franklin b concience, on Sat 30 Aug 4:52PM
  2. rutalking2me why does anything positive not come out from your system.you suspect everybody including yourself.ikf it is not phelps it is bolt.

    From franklin b concience, on Sat 30 Aug 4:49PM
  3. those who cant do criticise.

    From Dwight J, on Fri 29 Aug 3:27PM
  4. Everytime an athlete threatens to break world records, I get suspecious. Have we learned anything from the Flo Jo's fiasco ?!

    From Tim, on Fri 29 Aug 1:26PM
  5. To gasnez2000, please get your facts straight - it was not Usain Bolt who made that comment about the blood but ASAFA POWELL, and yes, you are right: he is quick. They don't call him Lightning Bolt for nothing ...........

    From c, on Fri 29 Aug 9:43AM
  6. Usain Bolt is one of the ---BEST!!!!!!! in the world!

    From Lady Africa, on Thu 28 Aug 11:11PM
  7. Yes he had about 10 blood tests at every stage on the build up and after his races; he even stated that he didn't know if he could perform to his full potential as the officials had taken so much blood (what a stupid thing to say). But god damm he is quick.

    From gaznev2000, on Thu 28 Aug 5:08PM
  8. did Usain Bolt has been undergone drug test?

    From flanjat, on Thu 28 Aug 9:10AM
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