A Jamaican sprinter has taken a very short time to rewrite two cherished world records on the track. From the Olympics in Beijing, VOA's Jim Stevenson has more on the man with a name that fits his accomplishments.
Usain "Lightning" Bolt, a 21-year-old Jamaican, took the Olympic 100 meter final by storm in Beijing. After a relatively poor start and easing up in the last 20 meters to pound his chest and gaze about, Bolt crossed the line in just 9.69 seconds with his left shoelaces coming loose. The effort broke his own world record of 9.72s, set earlier this year. You have to wonder how fast this man could run if he really tried.
Several Olympic reporters have debated how to pronounce Bolt's first name. It is Usain by the way. But the world's fastest man prefers a better name."I am Lightning Bolt. I am not Flash Gordon or anybody. My name is Lightning Bolt," he said.
It is an appropriate name since the 22-year-old Jamaican became the first man to shatter both the 100 and 200-meter world records at a single Olympics. On Saturday night in Beijing, the tall one-meter, 96-centimeter Bolt used his long, quick strides to cover 100 meters in a jaw-dropping 9.96 seconds. omgosH
The longer distance is his specialty. And no one could keep up with him in that race either as he sped to a record of 19.30 seconds. That time lowered the 12-year-old mark set by American great Michael Johnson (19.32), a record many people thought could not be broken. Bolt says it is no surprise because the event has been his favorite for a long time.
So for now, the world will just have to be content to marvel at the amazing and historic double Olympic victory by Usain Bolt.
