Usain 'Lightening' Bolt - The new name for sprint. Review on Usain Bolt

Usain 'Lightening' Bolttowering 6'5'' tall is the name that every athlete or common man utters after he set the New World Record of 9.69 in 100 mts dash in Beijing Olympics last month followed by a record in 200 mts in next four days which was held by American Sprinter Michael Johnson. He clocked the record time of 19.30 seconds to eclipse Michael Johnson 12 yrs old record which he had set in Atlanta Olympic games.

He not only limited himself in setting the above two personal records he also went ahead in setting the 4x100 Mts relay team record which was earlier set by the then Sprinting Legend Carl Lewis and his team in year 1992, Bolt and his team clocked the best time of 37.10. You can visit wikipedia to know more about his early life and ealry competition and also his best performances so far.... My review was purely on Bolts record in 2008 Beijing Olympics. The 2008 olympic saw raining of records in both individual and team events.

It all started with Katerina Emmons of Czech Republic setting Olympic Record with a win in 10 Mts Air Rifle event and followed by Michael Phelps in swimming. Every sports enthusiast eyes were set on the water cube closely watching Michael Phelps winning medal after medal.

The storm named Lightening Bolt strucked the Birds Nest on day 8 and made the entire world watching him. Most of the 100 mts race ends up in close finish, especially the results will be announced only when they see it monitor who crosses the finish line first, it probably ends in micro seconds difference. But here in 2008 Olympics there was no such opportunity was given for the ground staffs or any staffs for that matter sitting in front of the monitors.

The result was well known when Bolt crossed the 80 mts distance by thumping his chest in style in front of 80000 crowd gathered to witness one of the special events in Olympics. His record time of 9.69 seconds made the entire world turn to his side and more specially the media started writing more aobut him and his speed. If he hadnt slowed down 20 meters before the finish line he would have clocked under 9 seconds.

What a race........What a race......!!! It was a poor start for Usain Bolt when the gun fired, he was trailing behind the other athletes till the first 30 mts, then the long strides pushed Bolt in front of others and by 50 mts distance he had captured the guys who were running in front of him and from 80 mts onwards he looked at his sides thinking that no one was closer to him, he started thumping his chest as the sign of victory.

 Note: Bolt was not an 100 mts specialist, his main event is 200 mts. Few months before the start of the Olympics, his coach made him to run 100mts event in an open competition where he set a new world record of 9.72, that itself a huge difference when the current World Champion and World Record holder had run the best time of 9.77 seconds( Tyson Gay & Asafa Powell). There was a speculation before the start of the Olympics on Bolt participation in 100 mts event or not nor he will concentrate only on his special event ie., 200 mts.

Four days later expectations were soaring on Usain Bolt to break Johnsons record in 200 mts. Its not an easy task to run under 19.32 seconds, unless Bolt gets into a quick start build a lead in the curve and sprinting on the straight line. Bolt executed well to win a double that too with a record time. He had built a lead of two to three meters distance from the close contenders before finishing the race followed by his antics off the track and his signature style of posing to the camera.

Expectaions were high on the mens final sprinting competition ie., 4 X 100 mts relay, everyone expected it will be a neck to neck race between USA and Jamaica... In the qualifying round the Americans failed to qualify b'cos of the final batton exchange between Darvis Patton & Tyson Gay, Darvis failed to hand over the batton on third leg to anchorman Tyson, batton slipped off from Darvis and by that time Tyson moved over 20 yards distance.

This made Jamaican relay team to sit in a comfortable position. When the race started Jamaican's built the lead slow and steadily till it reached to 3rd anchorman (Bolt), when bolt received the batton he accelerated to his best to built the lead and passed it on to anchorman Asafa Powell. Asafa powered to finish the lane in under 9 seconds and a new world record was set in 4X100 mts relay. The new sprinting nation has dethroned the American powerhouse in Sprinting events. Usain Bolt stood as an one man army to demoralise the American sprinters, and to my view he was the super hero of 2008 Olympics.