Bolt's blitz in race of drama

2008-08-20 22:08

Luke Phillips Beijing - Jamaican Usain Bolt became the first man in 24 years to claim the Olympic sprint double on Wednesday when he won the 200m in record-breaking style.

Bolt set a new world record time of 19.30 seconds to bag a double last achieved by American Carl Lewis at the Los Angeles Games in 1984.

The Jamaican, who will be 22 on Thursday, broke the record of 19.32sec set by American Michael Johnson at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.

He also became the first man in Olympic history to win the double and break both world records at the same time.

Defending champion Shawn Crawford of the United States took silver in 19.96sec with team-mate Walter Dix, the 100m bronze medallist, picking up another bronze in 19.98sec.

Crawford and Dix benefitted from the disqualifications of Churandy Martina of the Dutch Antilles and fellow American Wallace Spearmon, who both finished ahead of them with times of 19.82 and 19.95sec.

Martina and Spearmon's times were scrubbed by officials after the duo were found to have run out of their lanes.

"I feel good. I have just proved to the world I am a true champion and with hard work anything is possible," said Bolt.

Worked very hard

"This is more than I can handle really, I'm a bit overwhelmed. I didn't think a 200m record was on because I felt tired after the heats.

"But I told everyone I was going to come out here and leave everything on the track and I did just that.

"I worked so hard to become champion and I will work harder to stay at the top," the former world junior champion warned.

After Bolt had won the 100m title - also with a world record of 9.69sec - on Saturday, this 200m race in sultry conditions at a packed 91&Nbsp;000-capacity National Stadium was all about the Jamaican showman.

He accelerated off his blocks in a perfect start and within 20m had tracked down Zimbabwe's Brian Dzingai on his outside.

As he hit the final bend, Bolt was a metre up on Crawford on his inside and he entered the final straight looking majestic, launching his lithe 1.96m (6ft 5") frame sprinting well clear of the field.

There was no easing up in the final 10m, as he had done in the 100m, the Jamaican dipping fiercely at the line with clenched teeth.

"I got out good, I ran the corner as hard as possible and once I entered the straight I told myself to 'keep it up, don't die on me now'," Bolt said.

Crawford added that it had been no surprise that Bolt had broken Johnson's long-standing record.

"The 19.32 wasn't strange for me, I have watched Usain perform all year, and he has been putting up phenomenal times," the American said.

'That guy is the business'

"I watched him through the rounds, I figured he had the chance to break the record, I just didn't know if he still had it in his legs.

"He broke the 100m record, the 200m record. He's bad, he's a bad 'mamma-jamma'.

"The guy came out and made this the best Olympics of my lifetime," Crawford said, adding that Bolt was to athletics what eight gold medal-winning US swimmer Michael Phelps was to his sport.

In the rejigged standings, Zimbabwean champion Dzingai claimed fourth in 20.22sec, and Welshman Christian Malcolm came in fifth in 20.40 ahead of veteran Kim Collins of St Kitts and Nevis in 20.59sec.

"He (Bolt) is not human," said the 32-year-old Collins. "Eventually he'll come back down to earth. It's ridiculous. That guy is the business.

"You have to understand that when you are at the back and giving it everything and he's just doing it, it's brutal, it's just brutal."

Malcolm added: "At the end we all just looked at each other in shock, I mean what can you say about Usain's run? Unbelievable.

"For me, I didn't run particularly great and I didn't really give myself a chance on the bend," Malcolm told BBC.

"Still, I'll take the good from these finals - I'm injury-free for one -and I can get better than this. Usain will have a bad day some time and I'm improving, so I'm looking forward to next season."

- SAPA