'Bolt's 100 win the best ever'

2008-08-20 14:00

Beijing - Usain Bolt's 100-meter world record triumph was the greatest race Michael Johnson has ever seen, the US legend said on Wednesday, and the 200m and 400m world record-holder has watched quite a few.

Jamaican star Bolt lowered his own 100m world record to 9.69 seconds with his blowout Olympic victory on Saturday and was set to attempt to complete a sensational sprint double by taking the 200m on Wednesday.

"It was the most impressive athletics performance I've ever seen in my life," Johnson said. "I certainly expected him to win. I can't say I expected him to win that fast or separate himself from the field so much.

"The fact he could have run even faster shows how great it was. It was an incredible performance."

The lanky Caribbean star's large frame is a key reason for his success, Johnson said.

"He has incredible speed and an incredibly long stride. That affords him the ability to cover more ground with every stride the way no one else can."

They will believe that

Sceptics often raise the spectre of doping when such amazing feats occur in the sport these days, in the wake of the Balco scandal and Marion Jones' admission of doping and return of five 2000 Olympic medals.

"It's unfortunate what has happened in the sport. It's being addressed," said Johnson. "Fans are going to make up their own minds. If they believe the only way he can do that is doping, they will believe that.

"I'm giving you another reason why he could do that.

"When you see somebody do something that physiologically no one else has been able to do, you are going to see some amazing times. That's the explanation I have for that."

Bolt has been part of an extensive IAAF testing program since the start of the year because Jamaica lacks a national anti-doping program such as those patrolling athletes from many other nations.

IAAF spokesperson Nick Davies said 22 Jamaican athletes received extensive out-of-competition testing, with Bolt tested four times and former 100m world record holder Asafa Powell tested six times.

Shatter

In competitions, both Bolt and Powell were each tested another three times and since July 27, when the IOC took over control of pre-Olympic testing, Bolt and Powell were each tested four times, including three blood tests each.

Johnson admits that Bolt might one day shatter his own world 200m record.

"Nothing he does will shock me," Johnson said. "He has been working on his start and the first part of the 100m proved he has worked on that. He's going to have to turn the corner a lot better and run the corner better."

Most athletes with Bolt's frame are pushed into longer races such as the 400m, Johnson said, but hinted that Bolt might find it harder to approach Johnson's 400m world record.

"He is an incredible athlete. He would be a world-class 400m runner near 43 seconds," Johnson said. "Whether he could run under the world record, that would be uncertain because some other elements come into play, endurance and strength."

Johnson will be a biased observer in Thursday's 400m final, when the runner he manages, reigning Olympic and two-time world champion Jeremy Wariner, faces fellow American LaShawn Merritt in a showdown of the world's two top 400 racers.

"It will be a great race. Jeremy is going to win, but it will be a great race," Johnson said.

"Merritt's strength is the fact he's very fast. He has to have a strategy that takes that into account.

"Jeremy is not as fast, but the key is he has speed endurance other athletes can't match. Once he gets that speed pace, he can run that speed all race long. That's his weapon. That takes a different strategy than someone who has superior speed."

Johnson sees Wariner breaking his 400m mark someday.

"I think it will happen soon. Whether it happens here I don't know," said Johnson. "He's not focused on that here. He's focused on winning."

- AFP