Lightning

Posted August 20th, 2008 by Ravinous

So it seems that lightening BOLTs do strike twice in the same place. Who would have thought that a 21 year old man would not just win, but break both the 100m & 200m records in just one olympics?? I am especially proud of him because finally the Caribbean is leaving a huge mark on the world stage. And how about those three Jamaican girls in the 100m... not to mention the Female hurdles? Good for all of them!!

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3rd world or USA...doesn't matter...IMO

On August 21st, 2008 LoseItOnce2008 says:

BEIJING (AP)—IOC president Jacques Rogge criticized Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt on Thursday for showing a lack of respect to other competitors after his record-breaking gold medal performances in the 100 and 200 meters.

“That’s not the way we perceive being a champion,” Rogge said.

The International Olympic Committee chief hailed Bolt’s stunning achievements in the two sprints, comparing him to American great Jesse Owens, but said Bolt should have cut out the look-at-me flaunting and acknowledged the other athletes.

“I understand the joy,” Rogge said. “He might have interpreted that in another way, but the way it was perceived was ‘catch me if you can.’ You don’t do that. But he’ll learn. He’s still a young man.”

HERE IS WHERE IT GETS SAD:

Bolt made little effort to congratulate the other runners as he wrapped himself in a Jamaican flag and set off on a solo victory lap. Swaying to the reggae music on the stadium loudspeakers, he walked barefoot around the track, putting his face inches from a TV camera, raising an index finger and yelling, “I am No. 1! I am No. 1!”

I agree with Will, no class, no shame... worst is... no RESPECT. Again, IMO... But again, to each is own:

“I guess there’s mixed feelings among athletes,” he said. “To me, I don’t feel like he’s being disrespectful. If this guy has worked his tail off, every day, on his knees throwing up like I was in practice, he deserves to dance.”

Bolt became the first man since Carl Lewis in 1984 to win the 100 and 200 golds at a single Olympics, and the only man ever to do it by breaking world records in both. Owens completed the 100-200 sweep at the 1936 Berlin Olympics, adding golds in the long jump and relay.

Yes it does!

On August 22nd, 2008 Ravinous says:

Did you see the race?
Ok, so he walked barefoot & celebrated - his way. But what about that American guy who placed third in the 200m... the guy who got disqualified for stepping on the line coming off the curve? Wasn't he doing the same things (minus the barefoot prancing)? Why is nobody talking about him & his crude & obnoxious behaviour.

Throughout the years i've never heard anybody complain about how sprinters behave after a race until this kid brought laughter & a light atmosphere to the world of sprinting. Donavon Baily threw his arms up high before the race ended when he broke his 100m record. So many other sprinters got caught with drugs in their system... perhaps the reason why they could not perform this Olympics. But yet a young, happy Caribbean boy from the rural part of Jamaica comes & does what no man IN HISTORY has ever done (broke both records in just a few days, setting the mark so unbelievably high), yet he's criticized for enjoying HIS moment in the biggest event of HIS life. I suppose he should have just walked off the track quietly just like everybody else, right?

So maybe the barefoot thing was a bit over the top for being at that level in the track & field world. I agree with that. But neither the IOC nor anybody else in this world should complain because this kid has brought a new lightness to track, & I think it's a good thing. If you saw the race, think back to the reaction of the 91,000 people as he "performed" for them after his races. Secondly, ask anybody else in the world who is not an American to compare his reaction to that of most North American athletes - in general - after their sprints. By the way, have you ever worn those sprint track shoes? lol. You try running like that & see for yourself... 2 words for you, blood flow. I won't go any further with this one.

I really don't expect you guys to understand why i'm talking like this, but that's quite OK. I'm not a Jamaican. I'm Kittitian. And i'm sorry that our guy came last in the finals. But I respect what the Caribbean athletes have done for the Caribbean - Jamaica, Trinidad, Netherland Antilies (sorry he got disqualified too), & St. Kitts. They all made the finals. So as far as I see, It's about time our region gets the respect we deserve. This win is much bigger that the IOC & certain member's opinions.

I'd love to get some feedback on this one...