The Bolt that keeps on striking

Pre Usain Bolt, I’ve always found men’s 100m sprinting a mesmerizing spectacle. The power, elegance, and sheer speed of the 8 men who propel themselves down the track, is one of sport’s great sights. No one has ever had such an immediate impact on athletics in the way Bolt has, breaking records with consummate ease, claiming a horde of titles and gold medals, all at the youthful of 22.

All eyes this week in Berlin are fixed on one man, a man who in little over 12 months has become a household, global superstar. It’s not just that Bolt is just an outstanding athlete; he portrays the image of a genuine, likeable guy, who enjoys chicken nuggets and nightclubs as much as any man in their 20s.

In a sporting event, where focus; composure and male bravado have previously dominate, Bolt manages to instil, with ease, an element of relaxation and fun to his running. When compared with top sprinters from yesteryear, Maurice Green, and Linford Christie, Bolt chooses to laugh and joke on the line, thoroughly enjoying, and savouring his moment.

The four 100m races Bolt ran over the weekend illustrated his horizontal, laid-back approach to sprinting. In his quarter-final, after his Round 1 jog, he exchanged smiles and laughter with his training partner, Daniel Bailey, despite there being 40m of the race to go.

Yesterday’s semi-final, and the jaw-droppingly compelling final, showcased Bolt at his supreme best. Prior to the semi-final, as the camera panned across the start line, Bolt’s nonchalant and humorous approach to his running was apparent, as he patted his hair, smoothed his eyebrows, while waggling his tongue like a dog on a hot summer’s day.

It’s as if he knows that he’s going to win the race due to the confidence oozing from every pour, or maybe Bolt finds that his sprinting comes easier to him through relaxation, a further example of his re-writing of the sprinting manual. Even after two false starts in semi, the first which he committed, Bolt still has the composure to hold his fingers up to his grinning mouth, instructing the crowd to quieten, so that the race can commence. Yes, he knew he was going to win.

On the start line for the final, it appeared that Bolt is chatting, yes, chatting to the other competitors. Covering and revealing his beaming smile, like a child who is under the impression that their antics are going unnoticed, Bolt proceeds to dance on the startline, itching to get the race underway and claim the gold medal he’s envisaging hanging from his neck. 9.58 seconds later, and with 0.11 seconds slashed off his own world record, the title, record and adulation is his, but we already knew that was going to happen.

It’s clear that this particular bolt will continue to strike repeatedly for years to come, and there’s the small matter of the 200m during the week. Let’s hope Bolt left some chicken nugget fuelled energy in his tank.