Usain Bolt did not disappoint and saw through his promise to everyone to not only be the best, but to be remembered as the best sprinter ever. In the 200 Meter final this afternoon, it was a race into the history books, a classic, a blistering charge into sports immortalization the peerless 25 year old Jamaican won an unprecedented back 200 meter gold medal in successive Olympics.
Bolt literaly bolted off the blocks, running down and taking team mate and eventual Bronze Medal winner Warren Weir with near dismissive ease. He shot into the turn transitioning beautifully into what at first blush looked like it would be a walkover win. But teammate Yohan Blake (who we should remember beat Bolt during the trails) mounted a challenge. For a moment it looked like he might rain on Usain’s parade and reign in the big man. And for a moment, a very brief moment, it looked like it could happen. Then Usain straightened out, and straightened up and pumped. And brought it home with badassitude and flair, even easing off the pedal (why does he never run through the finish – does he know what his records would look like?). But it was a thing of beauty. Bolt won the gold with a time of 19.32 seconds. His Jamaican teammate too the silver in 19.44 seconds, his other Jamaican teammate Warren Weir rounded out the sweep, taking the bronze in 19.84 seconds.
Usain Bolt is first man in the history of the Olympics to successfully defend both the 100 and the 200 meter golds. He is the biggest star of these Olympics. Unlike Johnson who wowed and slunk off into oblivion, unlike Carl Lewis who tried but could not defend the sprints in succession, unlike Phelps who competes in events whose near duplicity is troubling tedious (one could argue, they are time fillers designed to pad the medal count for some countries), Usain Bolt won with the same swagger in this Olympics as he did in the last Olympics.. He promised and delivered. His greatness beyond any doubt. Period. To quote the man himself, “It’s what I came here to do. I’m now a legend. I’m also the greatest athlete to live.” Can’t very much argue with that….
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