Usain Bolt and his world records

August 16, 2009 under the lights of the Olympic Stadium in Berlin at the World Championships, Usain Bolt, 22, struck the lightning pose and smiled before accepting her sign. Then the Jamaican, already the fastest man in the world, broke his own world record in the 100 meterswinning the competition in 9.58 seconds.

Bolt’s time of 9.69 at the 2008 Beijing Olympics was not only a world record, but for the first time, the 100 meters race was completed in less than 9.7 seconds.

Bolt’s amazing speed and laid-back, playful nature made him an international celebrity after his Olympic gold, but observers noted that he did not finish his Beijing run at full throttle. Many assumed that Bolt would soon be able to break his own world record.

It happened the following year, in the same stadium where first sprinter Jesse Owens covered himself in glory at the 1936 Olympics.

After completing the preliminary heats, Bolt lined up for the 100m final with Tyson Gay, the American sprinter was considered his main rival at the time. On the other side of Gay was Bolt’s compatriot, Asaf Powell; together, they were the three fastest people in the world.

Although his starts were considered weak, Bolt started strong and improved as the sprint progressed. Even as Gay ran the race of his life, finishing in 9.71 seconds, Bolt pulled away and won by more than a metre. As the exuberant Bolt continued to race around the turn of the track, beating his chest and getting the admiration of the crowd, his official time was announced.

Subsequently, Bolt said he could run even faster, possibly up to 9.4. He ended his career after the 2017 World Championships without reaching that mark, but his 100m world record lives on.

Author: Andrew Espinoza
Source: La Opinion

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