All Usain Bolt Does Is Run
We have seen some Herculean displays at these games. Simone Biles is regarded as the finest gymnast of any era, the indomitable Michael Phelps augmented his legend and an unknown South African, Wayde van Niekerk, reset the clock on a 400 metre record that stood for 17 years. Bolt is a one-man theatre show, expressing not just athletic supremacy but an elemental quality which draws everyone in. Usain Bolt, a lightning strike in yellow and black, sent Rio Olympics to the top of the news agenda across the globe. The winning time of 9.81 seconds was unremarkable and he was slowing down in his victory strides. He was considerably slower than London(9.63sec) and Beijing(9.69sec).
We’ve seen faster runners. He doesn’t run fast compared to, say, a cheetah. He doesn’t run far either. You know: 100 meters. Maybe 200 meters. His races last 10 seconds, 20 seconds, that’s it.
As Usain Bolt won his seventh gold medal at Rio de Janeiro’s Olympic stadium to consolidate his status as the most decorated sprinter of all time. It was a proud moment for Jamaica. For Bolt’s parents, pride has long been synonymous with humility. His parents, Wellesley and Jennifer still live in Jamaica’s Trelawney Parish, where Usain grew up. Already at their third Olympic Games with their 29-year-old son, Bolt’s parents said his talents had been obvious from an early age. Both Wellesley and Jennifer Bolt were also runners, and so it was only natural that the sprinter would follow in their footsteps.
Why is Usain Bolt the most thrilling athlete on planet?
When he debuted at Beijing Olympics, there was the element of surprise. The world didn’t know him yet, not really, and so everything he did left us thunderstruck. He was ridiculously fast then. He ran the 100-meters three times, and he pulled up in all three races. In the final, he ran hard and set the world record for 100m. How fast could he have run that day? He smiled broadly. “Faster,” was all he would say. Later he set the 200-meter world record too, a Michael Johnson record many thought unbreakable. And then Bolt danced around the stadium and celebrated with the crowd and, on the spot, invented the superhero called Usain Bolt.
The second time, in London, Bolt was more business-like. The world knew him, had expectations of him. He’d had a sketchy couple of years. He’d fouled out of the world championships. He wanted to prove the sceptics wrong. He wanted people to acknowledge him as the greatest sprinter who ever lived. So he won the 100 and 200 again, first man to ever win both events at consecutive Olympics.
Rio Olympics: The Men’s 100m Final
Bolt’s running is light, playful, relaxed and at the same time, impressively powerful. There’s no need to prove that this is not about any one factor, but the system of factors. Physically with his height of 6’5 Bolt is practically the tallest athlete in the World’s history of sprinting. Sunday, nobody was entirely sure what to expect. Bolt is 29 now. He was hurt badly enough that he had to pull out of the Jamaican Olympic Trials. Bolt may not be as explosive a runner as he was in Beijing or even London. And then he got to the start, and the crowd in Brazil roared. The crowed seemed excited just to watch someone run for a meagre distance of 100 metres. Then there was silence filled with anticipation and curiosity and hope that something miraculous will happen in the short span of 10 seconds.
Usain Bolt of Jamaica became the first runner to win the 100 meters at three consecutive Olympics. Bolt was slow out of the blocks, as is often the case. American Justin Gatlin and Canadian youngster Andre de Grasse pulled ahead. In this race, unlike Bolt’s other two 100-meter Olympic races, it wasn’t clear that Bolt would catch them.
And then, suddenly, about 60 or 70 meters into the race, it became clear. Justin Gatlin was duly pulped over the closing 40 metres after exploding quickest out of the blocks. Bolt usually gets to full speed (about 12 meters a second) at the 60-meter mark. By then, Gatlin’s lead had evaporated.
He sprinted by the second- and third-fastest men on earth seamlessly. And, after an exhilarating three or four second burst, the race was over. Or rather just beginning of the customary parade around the track. “Somebody said I can become immortal. Two more medals to go (200m, 4x100m relay) and I can sign off. Immortal,” he said. “It was brilliant. I didn’t go so fast but I’m so happy I won. I told you guys I was going to do it.”
Since Beijing 2008, when Bolt won his first trio of gold medals, he has entertained crowds not only with his form on the track but also off it. After crossing the finish line on Sunday, the biggest cheer came when he pulled his famous “Lightning Bolt” pose for the cameras. And as for the future, Bolt will leave a legacy to inspire future generations.
Picture Courtesy: Google, FirstPost, Telegraph