Olympic Spoiler Men' s 200m

[malaise]

Lightning strikes twice - the double in world record time. 19.30.


Jamaica land we love!!!!!

And tomorrow he turns 22. hahahahahhahahaha - happiness is!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

add

[JBoy]

1. Right. Fucking. On. Bolt is a machine.

[TheDebbieDee]

2. He's amazing............

Did he run the whole 200 meters or did he blow kisses to the crowd while galloping the last 15 meters? ;-)

[malaise]

3. The entire Bird Nest erupts with

happy Birthday to you. We are in tears here.

[malaise]

4. he was dead serious this time

:rofl:

[ColbertWatcher]

29. He ran the first 100 meters, delivered a baby in the next 25 meters ...

... fought off several women trying to have him father some more for the next 50 meters, finally finishing up by winning the Men's floor exercises in the final 25 with a series of backflips.

[IndianaJones]

5. sweet that he made Michael Johnson eat his words.nt.

[malaise]

7. Yep and now Melanie Walker gives us

another gold in the 400 hurdles. What a morning!!!!

[malaise]

9. MJ knew this was coming

:D

[MiniMe]

14. He did, predicted that the record would be broken. Just didn't think it

would be in this competition.

[malaise]

24. Johnson speaks

http://news.yahoo.com/story//ap/20080820/ap_on_sp_ol/oly_ath_track_and_field

<snip>
Usain Bolt kept driving for the finish line, knowing the race was won but there was something even bigger out there.

Not just another world record, but history itself. Not just an unheard-of blowout, but the chance to be called the greatest sprinter ever.

Bolt may have done just that Wednesday night, on his sport's biggest stage.

The Jamaican wunderkind hurtled to his second world record and his second Olympic gold medal, finishing the 200-meter race in 19.30 seconds to break Michael Johnson's 12-year-old mark. In doing so he became the first man ever to break the world record in both the 100 and 200 at the same Olympics and the first since Carl Lewis in 1984 to win the sprint double.

That he did it was one thing — how he did it was even more memorable. He beat Churandy Martina by 0.52 second — about four body length — the largest margin of victory in an Olympic 200 since the first race in 1900.

The last man to hold both world records simultaneously was none other than Donald Quarrie, the 1970s Jamaican star whom Bolt said he always wanted to pattern his running after.

Bolt's 100 record is 9.69 seconds. He averaged 9.65 per 100 meters in the longer sprint, running into a very slight headwind.

"Incredible," Johnson, now the former record-holder, said after the race. "He got an incredible start. Guys of 6-5 should not be able to start like that. It's that long, massive stride. He's eating up so much more track than others. He came in focused, knowing he would likely win the gold and he's got the record."

Bolt won the race on the eve of his 22nd birthday and a version of "Happy Birthday" played over the public-address system as he took off his gold shoes and wrapped the Jamaican flag around his shoulders like a scarf.

[IndianaJones]

26. Bolt is a freak. I think this guy is going to set the bar for a long time to come. nt.

[malaise]

27. Nice BBC blog

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/olympics/2008/08/bolt_makes_the_impossible_real.html

<snip>
This was one of the top two or three performances in athletics history, produced by a 21-year old who should probably now be hailed the finest sprinter the world has seen.

It sounds like too much, like hyperbole - but how can you argue with 9.69 and 19.30?

Bolt's 100m was a thing of brilliant insousiance, of spectacular exuberance.

On Wednesday night we saw a different Usain. Before he settled on his blocks, there was the same clowning and posing as before his record-breaking run last Saturday - wiping his hands across his glistening head at increasing pace before holding the archer's pose as the crowd roared its delight.

When the gun sounded, however, there was no coasting the last 20 metres, no holding his arms out like an airplane, no looking up at the stands as he flew towards the line.

Tonight, there was no mistaking the effort. He hammered out of the blocks, had a gap of three metres coming off the bend and then poured in every last drop of energy he had, gritting his teeth, driving with his arms, throwing himself at the line.

When he glanced to his left and saw the clock, he threw his head back and then collapsed to the track, forehead and hands flat on the ground.

[tannybogus]

6. Congrats!

Whatever happened to Merlene Ottey? It seemed like she was always flying around the track

every time I watched some meet. I miss her and some of the Americans like Gail Devers and

Jackie Joyner-Kersee.:applause:

[malaise]

8. Merlene now lives in Slovenia

She is 49 and tried to run for the Olympics again.
You should see the streets of Jamaica as people are gathered in parks watching on wide screen TVs.

That Happy Birthday from the entire Birds Nest had us in tears.

[tannybogus]

11. Why is she in Slovenia?

That is a real culture and climate change!

[malaise]

13. She wanted to continue running and Jamaica

said enough! She has lived in Europe for decades - Italy for the most part.

add.

[JBoy]

12. Merlene Ottey is now 48 years old, and just missed qualifying for Beijing.

Missed by 0.028 seconds. Would have been her 8th Olympics. She anchored the Jamaican relay team to a silver in Sidney at the age of 40.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

10. In honor of the spoiler......

Congrats!!!!! You must be totally thrilled with your team!!!! I thought of you!!!!

[malaise]

18. That is an understatement

We knew he'd win the 200m but to win both and break both world records is more than we expected. And don't forget our girls with two gold. Jamaica has gone crazy!!

As an aside Puma sales went up by $2million after he broke the first record.
Sorry Nike, Puma's investment in our track and field team has paid off big time.


http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/beijing/track_field/news;_ylt=AiVzp_TO2ouLBXWXbSSr01g1o5N4?slug=reu-athleticsmen200_pix&prov=reuters&type=lgns

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

23. Cool Running 2

and not a comedy!!!!!

Seriously, I'm not much of a field and track person but yes, you're team has been outstanding! Kudos to Puma for their support!!!!

[harun]

15. That's crazy fast. Can't wait to watch it tonight (n/t)

[malaise]

20. You can watch it now

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HehcE_i2S0M

[harun]

21. I wasn't quick enough, already pulled (n/t)

[TahitiNut]

25. I'll say! I wonder what the 100 split was. It's two 9:45 100s. Faaaassst!

His body mechanics have to be a dream.

[MiniMe]

16. And sincere thanks for posting it as a spoiler.

[bullwinkle428]

17. Maybe they'll actually show him receive his gold medal this time -

NBC is doing a wonderful job showing athletes from countries other than the U.S.A. receive their just rewards... :sarcasm:

[malaise]

19. You should see the people in Half Way Tree

Singing and dancing in the bus centre.

[dendrobium]

22. Jamaica has come to a standstill

I am sure those who have not called in sick are just going through the motions at work. This is unbelievable! After many Olympics of silver and bronze medals, we finally are able to make the step up to gold.

And the thing is, there is more gold yet to be mined!

[ColbertWatcher]

30. No kidding!

And I hope this time they don't play the repeat just before midnight.

Which is when they played his 100m win.

NBC is really working hard to suck at sports.

[malaise]

31. Here's another link

http://www.caribville.com/watch_200m_148.html

They have a better quality 100 as well.

[ColbertWatcher]

32. WOW!

I think someone told him not to stop running until after the finish line!

Wow! Thank you for the link!

[malaise]

33. Caribbean people are so resourceful

:rofl:

[ColbertWatcher]

28. 19.30. n/t

[fishwax]

37. that averages a 100m split that's even faster than the world record he set this weekend

:wow:

On edit: I guess that's not unusual, since the 200m gives them more room to run at top speed, but still impressive :)

[ColbertWatcher]

38. It will be exciting to watch this guy's career!

I have never seen anyone run with such speed and ease.

He's brilliant!

[fishwax]

39. absolutely!

It's been great fun already, and he's only 21!

:applause:

[malaise]

45. Until midnight

He's 22 tomorrow.

[Condem]

34. Congrats, malaise

What a performance!

[malaise]

35. Thanks on behalf of Usain

We just cheered him on screaming. :D

[fishwax]

36. wow!

:wow:

That was impressive!

[bullwinkle428]

40. Can we pencil in his third gold for Saturday night when

he runs in the 4 x 100 relay??

Seriously, who can challenge them? Bolt, Powell, Frater...probably Christopher Williams. Just don't drop the baton!

[malaise]

41. We're hoping for the 4 X 1 double

but tomorrow it will be either our Veronica Campbell or your Alison Felix. Veronica is the defending champion.

[bullwinkle428]

42. If I was a betting man, I wouldn't be putting down ANY money

against any sprinter from Jamaica at this point!

[malaise]

64. You win

Veronica wins, Felix second and Keron third (not sure about this one yet). Gold for Jamaica and awe take male and female 100m and 200m.

[MiniMe]

43. The only thing that worries me a bit

is that all of these great performances by the Jamaicans seem to be out of the blue, coming from nowhere. Usually when I have seen something like that in the past, doping seems to have something to do with it. Like FloJo. The one that disapointed me the most was Marion Jones, I really thought she was clean. I truly hope I'm wrong. And if it is a coach and they don't know about it somehow, I hope they string him up by the thumbs.

[malaise]

46. You aren't serious

Look I won't put my head on a block for an athlete but Jamaica has been winning gold medals since 1948.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_Wint

The only other athlete to hold the WR for both the 100 and 200 simultaneously is our Donald Quarrie, who won the 200 in Montreal, 1976. By the way Usain broke Quarrie's national record for the 200 last year.
Usain was the youngest ever winner (15) of the IAAF's World Youth Championship. He won the 200 world record for the youths in 2004. Usain is a freak of nature.

Frederica Whitfield's father Mal was in both the 48 and 52 Olympics.
Jamaica and the US have had a long history of track and field rivalry.

[MiniMe]

56. I really don't know

I'm not accusing him of anything. I know that Jamaica has had great runners in the past. Marion Jones and FloJo tainted me, I really thought they were clean, especially Marion.

[TahitiNut]

47. It's not doping. It's yams.

:silly: That's the facts, Jack. His momma said so.

[malaise]

49. I don't know what it is but since yams are standard diet

across the Caribbean and Africa, we can rule out that variable. Further Usain loves chicken nuggets.

[TahitiNut]

50. Apparently his momma ascribed it to the yams grown in one place on the island of Jamaica.

Watch out for hordes of wannabe track stars invading and pillaging the fields there. :silly:

I was in Jamaica in 1972 (honeymoon) ... and ate the yams (yum!) ... but still can't run. :dunce:

On the other hand, my wife ran like hell 10 years later. :silly:

[malaise]

53. Trelawny Yams

the best yams do come from his home parish. Merlene Ottey was also from Trelawny. I think it has more to do with the number of miles they walk and run to school. That's one hilly parish.

[TahitiNut]

58. I'll be darned. That's where I got lost on the back roads and had to ask for directions.

It's (sorta) above (south) Rose Hall Great House, right? Lots of trees and dirt roads.

[malaise]

65. By the way Veronica Campbell is also

from Trelawny - must be the water :D

[shanti]

60. yes, it must be the yam

:eyes: my jamaican friends are going nutz!

[XOKCowboy]

44. Happiness to you and all Jamaicans

You should be proud. World's Fastest Human by a long shot.

[malaise]

51. We're all happy but given the history of the past 20 years

of track and field we're hoping to stay happy for longer than next week. Remember Marion Jones won four gold and she's in prison somewhere. Given Usain's record since school days we think he's clean and we're glad WADA is testing non-stop at the Games. We know eyebrows are being raised the same way we raised ours re Flo Jo and others.

[XOKCowboy]

57. I didn't want to mention that

After your explanation of the Jamaican history of running I do hope that he really is as good as he seems.

[benEzra]

48. That was amazing.

Wow.

[FKA MNChimpH8R]

52. Bolt and Phelps are freaks of nature

no one should be able to move that fast on land or in water. Bolt completely dominated that race from the first stride. I tip my hat to you, mon!

[malaise]

54. Remember the pool was very fast and swimmers had high tech swim gear

Likewise this new track in China is very, very fast.

[FKA MNChimpH8R]

55. Still, Bolt simply ran away from the cream of the world's sprinters

There was no one within yards of him at the finish and to open up that kind of space in only 200 meters is pretty mind-bending.

[ColbertWatcher]

59. Sorry it took so long: Pics!

[riverdeep]

61. Am I wrong, or does this guy have a somewhat unusual body type for a sprinter?

His body type seems more suited to the longer distances. Usually, sprinters are a lot more muscular and stocky, whereas he's more long and lean. Not a pencil neck by any means, but longer than typical, no?



(Ben Johnson- track star, doping fiend)


(Usain)

[ColbertWatcher]

62. I was thinking that too, but...

...prior to his wins, everyone had thought sprinters should be short and muscular.

Perhaps now that a tall guy with a long stride has won, maybe we'll be seeing more lanky guys sprinting and setting records?

But then again...



...Shelly-Ann Fraser won and she's not tall like Usain Bolt is!

[malaise]

63. And here comes the ladies 200m

Three Americans, one Bahamian and four Jamaicans - one running for the Cayman Islands.

Let's go Veronica, Keron and Sherone. Alison Felix is dangerous here.

[malaise]

66. Too damn sweet

http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/beijing/track_field/news;_ylt=AtI6WxYWAyBl9VnxxWQZHZq7KZt4?slug=ap-ath-trackandfield&prov=ap&type=lgns

[malaise]

67. Jamaicans celebrating

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7573561.stm


http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20080821/lead/lead1.html



TRAFFIC lights on green went unnoticed as motorists came to a standstill. Crossing pedestrians stopped in the middle of the street. Hundreds on the sidewalk stood transfixed, all eyes locked to the video board. Olympic history was about to be made and Half-Way-Tree was about to erupt.

At 8:30 am, 50 minutes before the race, a slow trickle of people had started filling the area where Digicel and Video Vibes had erected a video board in a corner of Mandela Park at the intersection of Parish Place and Constant Spring Road for passers-by to watch the Olympic Men's 200m final which would feature 100-m champion and world record-holder Usain Bolt.

Diana Bennett was on her way to the doctor with her teenage daughter but delayed the mission when they happened upon the video board.

"She's not going to collapse... it's nothing fatal," she laughed.
Tamara Robinson was waiting patiently at the entrance to the Half-Way-Tree Transport Centre.

"Bolt is going to take the gold... because he's the fastest man in the field right now, so he is definitely going to take it," she told the Observer.