Usain Bolt Sprints into the Record Books
Usain Bolt is probably one of the few Olympian ever that can get an entire
stadium to roar their approval. He'll even get fans to cheer when he is
competing against one of their own country mates. He is a rock star of
the sports world. A true superstar in any sport. Michael Phelps may
be the most decorated athlete in Olympic history, but Usain may be challenging
for most popular. Every victory Usain gains is met with the kind of
cheers you hear when the home team wins the World Series or the Stanley
Cup. This is coming from someone who has only been able to view it on
TV. Man, I wish I was able to sucker a rich publisher into allowing me to
cover the Olympics on site.
Usain Bolt may not be the most decorated Olympian, but he is a history
maker. He is now the first man to win back to back golds in the two
fastest races, the 100 metre and the 200 metre. He is the undisputed
fastest man ever.
The sprint is the main event of the Olympics. The buzz you get in that
stadium is unbelievable. One day, I really hope I can to be there. I
want to be soaking in the energy before the massive race. It seems like
one of the truly great pre-game moments in sport. It is like the moments before a prize fight
or the coin toss during the Super Bowl. It carries the energy and hype
that challenges any other major sporting event.
Usain Bolt won the main event on Sunday by dominating the 100 meter.
He just cemented his legacy today. And he did it in the most epic of
fashion possible. He smoked the competition. Though fellow Jamaican
Yohan Blake challenged him a bit down the stretch when he put on the jet
boosters and started to gain some meters. Bolt knew he had won it, and
even jogged past the finish line. It was exactly how all his fans wanted
him to win it.
Jamaica is a racing power that has just blasted on the scene in the last
decade. I don't ever really remember hearing about them being a real
super power back in the '80s and '90s. Now, they have several top notch
sprinters, and even have a Jamaican sweep of the medals in today's 200 meter
final. I don't see them giving up that crown any time soon.
The victory today was almost more exciting than the race. You can see
why Usain is a rock star of sprinting. He shook hands with and hugged as
many fans as possible. They all loved him. He did his thunder bolt
pose and almost a post victory posing show reminiscent of Hulk Hogan from
wrestling. It is a spectacle. And everyone loves it. Bolt is
probably one of the hottest stars in sports and the guy who has helped make
track and field more popular (though it has always been hot in the Olympics).
He seems like a guy deserving of the fame. He seems like someone who
really cares about his community and is trying to give back to the poor
children of Jamaica. He is a world class athlete, a transcendent showman,
and a remarkable human being. Now, he is solidly in the history books and
continues to become an immortal in the sports world.
Also in track and field, a world record was shattered in the men's 800
meter. It didn't have the buzz of Bolt, but it was still a fantastic feat
and a true show of dominance. Kenya's David Lukuta Rudisha absolutely
blew away the field by pulling away from all the other competitors and breaking
a world record with the time of 1:40.91. It was one of the few world
record breakers at the track, and it was impressive due to being so
dominant. I also liked when his fellow team mate tried to shove himself
into the photos and almost make it looks like he may have achieved the world
record. Way to try to steal the glory, Timothy Kitum. You almost
pulled it off.
It was definitely one of those exciting, history making days at the
track. And I can see it all in Brazil in 4 years when a millionaire pays
for me to write about it. You know you want to, Mister Moneybags.
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