Bolt the record-breaker triumphs again on day six of the World Athletics Championships
Bolt breaks records and a cameraman breaks his lap of honour, the runners are overflowing with brotherly love and Jobodwana says he’s proved his consistency on day six of the Beijing World Athletics Championships.
Issued on: Modified:
- Bolt does the business
The IAAF, the body which organises the world championships extravaganza, really should put a “handle with care” sign around Usain Bolt. He’s diverted attention from the drugs
shame of the two Kenyan athletes and conjured up some history for the keepers of the records. He’s the first man to successfully defend his sprint double at the world championships and he’s the first man to win the 100 or 200 metres four times on the trot. The American Carl Lewis won three on the bounce in 1983, 1987 and 1991. So it could be argued Lewis could have done better. But since the championships have been staged every two years, only the American Maurice Greene has claimed three consecutive 100 metres titles in 1997, 1999 and 2001.
It’s all so fleeting
Age hasn’t quite yet withered him but the courtside protocol may yet maim him. While doing his lap of honour, a cameraman on a Segway lost control of his vehicle and it veered into Bolt’s legs. The big man fell over but rather athletically was back on his feet in a – well; why not? – bolt. The organisers might need to think again about this way of getting those close-up pictures.
- And they called it mano a mano love
The review is reminded of a classic from way back - Donny Osmond’s Puppy Love. Well, that was super-syrupy and it worked because we remember it being top of the British charts. We did not buy the record. Actually, we preferred when Donny teamed up with his brothers – the called the band The Osmond Brothers - for the song Crazy Horses. Great synths! Again we didn’t buy the record. Was it because we were poor? No, because we had taste. The sprint thoroughbreds Bolt and Gatlin were doing some serious post-race joshing. Shall we stay equine and call it horseplay? Gatlin said he had no problems with Bolt because the Jamaican was a “competitor” and he too was a “competitor”. Gatlin hailed Bolt as “championship calibre”. Bolt also described Gatlin as a “competitor”. He was someone who “showed up” for championships. On day five the 400 metres runner LaShawn Merritt was eulogising those athletes who “left it on the track”. But Merritt and his gang are out there for about 45 seconds. Bolt and Gatlin are out there for less than half that time. Clearly they don’t have enough time to deposit their full payloads of testosterone. Run slower lads, run slower.
- Big up respect to Anaso Jobodwana
The review has been chatting to the young South African following his races. He’s been in the 2012 Olympic final as well as the showdown at the 2013 Moscow world championships – he finished sixth in that one. So, after qualifying for the third major final of his career, Jobodwana said he’d proved his consistency. It was especially pleasing after injuries in the earlier part of the season, he added. A bronze medal behind Bolt and Gatlin in a South African national record time of 19.87 seconds is impressive.
- There’s symmetry in the air
Yes, we’re going to get metaphysical. Why? Because we must. Why must we? We’ll stop there. Beijing was where the adventure began for Usain Bolt. As a 22-year-old, he won the 100 and 200 metres Olympic titles as well as the 4x100 metres relay in that humid August of 2008. Seven years later he’s back in the place where he started his rise. And it has been an astounding journey. It’s fitting that he has set records in the place where his star was born. The review loves this kind of thing.
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