Usain Bolt of Jamaica won the Olympic 100 metres on Saturday, shattering the world record in the process with a time of 9.69 seconds.
Bolt thumped his chest in celebration as he crossed the line, after leaving Richard Thompson of Trinidad and Tobago (silver) and American Walter Dix (bronze) trailing at the Bird’s Nest Stadium.
Asafa Powell finished out of the medals, while Tyson Gay was eliminated in the semi-finals.
Bolt had looked capable of running an extremely fast time as he ambled through the heats and so it proved in Beijing on Saturday as he pulled off a win that will live long in the memory.
But what do you think of his achievement? Let us know in the comments. We’ll have more on this later, but for now, here’s another photo:
Reuters photos: Gary Hershorn (top), Jerry Lampen (bottom)
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At 50m when Bolt came out of the pack… this funny video of man v/s cheetah on youtube came to my mind… it looked so unrealistic!
The guy looked like some kid running the 100m for the first time, he showed up, very cool, as though nothing was at stake here… and did everything usually unthinkable in a finish: slowing down, looking back at opponents, keeping a straight posture till the end. He even got through with an undone shoe… all the characteristics of an ammateur!
- Posted by Nust & boltsWE NEED TO JUST RE- NAME JAMAICA SPRINT FACTORY > BECUASE WE ARE GOING TO GET THE MAN AND WOMAN GOLD MEDAL IN 1OOM , 200M AND 4*100M > LET JUST DO THAT THANK WE GON WITH THE GOLD A BEIJING > LOL WE NEED FULL COVEAGE > THANK YOU I LOVE IT LOL
- Posted by LC >HMM>
WE GON THE ALL THE GOLD A BEIJING > YES LOL
I CAN C IT >LOL
WE NEED TO JUST RE- NAME JAMAICA SPRINT FACTORY > BECUASE WE ARE GOING TO GET THE MAN AND WOMAN GOLD MEDAL IN 1OOM , 200M AND 4*100M > LET JUST DO THAT THANK WE GON WITH A BEIJING > LOL WE NEED FULL COVEAGE > THANK YOU I LOVE IT LOL
- Posted by LC >HMM>
WE GON THE ALL THE A BEIJING > YES LOL
I just got the feeling he knew he could run much faster, pretty much whenever he wants, and so he thought he may as well make the most of the occasion and really enjoy himself.
- Posted by Kevin FylanWhat a shame that he didn’t finish at full speed- a true champion would not quit until the race was over. It’s a shame because he’s a great sprinter, but it just didn’t seem very sportsmanlike to me.
- Posted by olympic junkieNow THIS is a world record. I love Phelps, but Usain Bolt just up-ended the whole thing. Kids all over the world run. How many third world kids have access to pools - and “training” for swimming? Usain is amazing.
- Posted by Mortgage RefinanceBolt to the world! Warning to athletes out there….. watch Jamrock ..many more yutes dey ya fi buss pon di scene. IOC and WADA clear the way.
- Posted by scudWonderful, simply wonderful. What a race, what a lovely guy who will prove to be an amazing ambassador for Jamaica. Great, terrific, fantastic! We are so pround of you. Words caan’ dun!
- Posted by ginaIt certainly is true that his cockiness towards the end leads us to wonder how fast could he have gone… he really needs to check that coz when others come (as they will and they have a kick) he will leave to regret his constant turning back to see who is behind him
But the Bolt of lightning has shown what he is made of
- Posted by NiksAmazing finish………..way to go
- Posted by VectorpediaI dont know if celebrating a special win is lack of sportsmanship. Like many I am quite disappointed that Bolt decided to celebrate so early before winning not because I wanted to see a better time but because someone could have run past him. In any case this was a special performance I would be more than surprised it Bolt should test test positive.
He was under little stress to win this race as it was not his pet event and his long strides make it hard for anyone to beat him.
This was a special win for JAMAICA and he had every reason to celebrate.
- Posted by Nelsoncongrats to usain bolt, simply awesome, incredible, ubelieveable, invincible performance; what a show man, the complete package; as a Trinidadian we are extremely proud of Richard Thompson grabbing silver, outstanding performance, we shocked the world cause they never thought we’d be in the mix;and to go 9.8’s is great on his part; what a day for the caribbean, LARGE AND IN CHARGE all around the world!!
- Posted by andyIf this race tests drug free, this is reminiscent of 1976 Hasley Crawford of Trinidad and Tobago and Don Quarrie of Jamaica. Way to go West Indies! We can’t win in cricket as we used to but this result in track and field makes us very proud!
- Posted by Tony BUsain I hope you will see this comment. I am so so proud of you most of my friends and relative did not believe you could do it. But I was an athelete once and I know good atlethes when i see them,I saw your past performance and I knew you would do exceptionally well with the right training. Stay focus Bolt and thank God for your fame and triumph. in everything, if you want to improve and stay on top you have to practise. Alot of persons will want to be your friends now that you are famous. Be wise and remember don’t lose sight of your goal. You did not just run a great race you are a great champion!! Big up to your coach as well. All the best!!!
- Posted by ddAsafa does not have enough confidence. He needs to practise more and lift less weights, his body is too tight and he needs to be more focussed and forget about having a relationship right now. Asafa has talent too but he has lost sight of the prize. He just need to realize that he is not just running for himself 68% of Jamaican were vying for him and his response just don’t seem as if he cares for us at all!
and there wasn’t even a following wind….that makes it even more amazing.
- Posted by wowFOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON’T KNOW USAIN BOLT IS THE REINCARNATION OF THE GREEK GOD HERMES, THE ROMANS CALLED HIM MERCURY. THE COMIC BOOK “FLASH” WAS FUTURISTIC AS IT RECORDED THE ABILITIES OF USAIN BOLT BEFORE HE WAS BORN!…9.69 AND SHUT IT DOWN AT 70 METRES. IF HERMES, MERCURY, FLASH….OOPS… SORRY I MEAN BOLT HAD RUN THROUGH THE LINE IT COULD HAVE BEEN 6.99…..
- Posted by HOWARD L. GORDONWORLD…..YOU ARE LOOKING AT A PHENOMENON!!!……HEY USA…WELCOME TO THE WORLD OF “CLEAN” RUNNING AND CARIBBEAN ATHLETICS!….INSTEAD OF CHECKING USAIN FOR DRUGS….CHECK TO SEE IF HE IS A VISITOR FROM OUTER SPACE! MARTIAN MAYBE. JAMAICA TO THE WORLD!!!!!AT THIS TIME I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE THE OTHER COUNTRIES TO COME HERE AND SAVOUR OUR FOOD…THE PUMPUM YAM AND THE PATTY AND COCO-BREAD AND BAG JUICE…..SECRETS TO OUR DRUG FREE SUCCESS…LOL!!!!!
The question will always remain,what time could he have run? Unfortunately, the world will never know…as the last 20 meters were dedicated to GlOATING!!! I will always remember THE LACK OF OlYMPIC SPORTSMANSHIP!
- Posted by hhHi,
- Posted by harryisaac kiplagat Need to check his stats, Michael Johnsons’ time worked out to 25 point something mph and Donavon Baileys’ time worked out to 27.07 mph. To which Bailey pointed out that even Michael knows the difference between 27 and 25 mph in the controversy that existed. You, Mr. Kiplagat still live in a dream world about an American being the fastest man.
Simply amazing! I hope he is clean!
- Posted by MohanBolt could have gone below 9.50 if he didn’t let himself go before the finish. He can do even better. He has to be more focused.
- Posted by david matthews