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Usain unbolts Powell-Gay 100m domain
By Earl Bailey
Friday, May 09, 2008
According to coach Glen Mills, the current sprint work being done by Usain Bolt, including the race last Saturday, is preparation for the 200 metres. No problem there. However, it must be noted that scientists discovered Viagra while working on a cure for hypertension.
BOLT... being touted as potential Olympic champion
Dig this quote: "On its way to becoming Viagra, UK-92,480 changed from a drug for hypertension to a drug for angina, and then changed again when a 10-day toleration study in Wales turned up an unusual side effect."
Interestingly, Bolt started as a high jumper. The side effect being experienced by Bolt is that he is now being penned in as a potential Olympic champion in short order. And if that is not enough for the young man, some believe he has the mettle to win not one, not two, but three gold medals in 2008. Dreams, dreams, dreams.
Usually it takes a long time and the most meticulous preparation to conjure up a 'bomb'. But in a matter of only 9.76 seconds, Usain Bolt, ably guided by the experienced tutor Mills, has blown the sprint world apart. This world will never be the same again.
Overnight, the boy from Trelawny has evolved from one of the players in the game to one of the leaders of the team. In a flash, he has been transformed from a prince into a potential emperor, or perhaps more appropriately, from the ring bearer into the potential groom.
OK. So it wasn't overnight. The process has been bubbling since 2002. But bear this in mind. A major percentage of sprint champions at the youth levels fades away on passing mile post 20.
Also, how many men who run 'only' the 200 metres become poster boys for posterity? Fact is, presently, short sprinters are defined not by the speed of their 200, but by their exploits in the crown jewel of the sport, the 100 metre dash.
But what the heck is 9.76? What does this number mean? Apart from being the second fastest time ever run, consider this. It would have been the world record nine months ago were it not for Asafa Powell's 9.74.
Bolt's improvement from a nobody in the event to 10.03 to 9.76 in three races ranks alongside a black woman winning the presidency of the United States. Simply unthinkable. In my mind, this ranks just below the 29'2" jump by Bob Beamon in 1968. Hopefully Bolt will not repeat a 'Beamon' who never came close to those lofty heights afterwards.
Flojo's improvement from 10.96 to 10.49 in1988, or by .47 seconds, is well documented. Steroids and a suspect wind reading are credited.
Bolt is famous for making big improvements. He moved from 21.73secs in 2001 to 20.61secs in 2002 to 20.13secs in 2003 to 19.93secs the following year and progressed after injuries to the current 19.75secs last year.
Expect a big move in this event in a short while. He also arrived from nowhere to run 45.35 in 2003 and jogged 45.28 last year. He would now rank near the top of the most versatile sprinters (100, 200, 400) in the world, just below legends like the late Herb McKenley and Michael Johnson.
And what are the implications of 9.76 for Bolt? Firstly,the majority of the world will throw him in the 'suspect' basket. After only three races, amateur or professional, he moved from 10.03 in July 2007 to 10.03 in March, and now this 'bomb.'
Every athlete who has managed to crack the 9.80secs barrier, including our beloved Asafa, will have to live with this tag. Heck,the lot includes Ben Johnson, Tim Montgomery and Justlin Gatlin. You can't blame the police if you are under surveillance while living in their neck of the woods.
Secondly, he has stumbled on a potential gold mine. To get to the gold mine, he will have to be consistent; not running 9.76 every day, but a 'simple' sub-10 clocking will suffice.
The management teams of Powell and Tyson Gay played hide-and-seek while the world waited for ages last year. Bolt's emergence highlights a new dynamic and a meet promoters' dream. There is no place to run or hide for either of the three, and big clashes will take place with or without anyone who may want to hold out.
And if Bolt goes on to win the gold in Beijing, we could see the Olympic gold medallist, the World Champion and the World record-holder hooking up. Wow!
Thirdly, Bolt is now considered a threat to our King.This is most tricky. This is as much a mental battle as a physical war. He will have to condition himself, or be conditioned, to crush his good friend and teammate, King Asafa.
However, unlike in the past when they had to hide in the dark to assassinate Emperor Caesar, this will have to be planned and executed in broad daylight in the glare of millions.
To add to the mix, Mills and Stephen Francis are good friends and both athletes are trained locally at Stadium East - sometimes simultaneously!
Bolt's mental capacity to tackle and succeed in the big ones has never been questioned. The bigger the occasion, the bigger the man. On the other hand, Asafa still lives in a shadow of uncertainty. The match-ups could be the stuff of dreams. Of course, the intrigue is being heightened as Asafa recovers from an injury.
It's no small feat for Jamaica's track & field to have produced the two fastest men ever - at the same moment in time. And to put icing on the cake, they are guided by local coaches. Soon the world will be coming here to learn our secret - and to test our water!
Undoubtedly, Powell's exploits have forced the international spotlight on Jamaica over the past three years. However, the show has just begun. Races between the two should blow up the good side of Jamaica's image like a neutron bomb - providing Bolt shows consistency. Some men will say this ranks right up there with Viagra!
By Earl Bailey
Friday, May 09, 2008
According to coach Glen Mills, the current sprint work being done by Usain Bolt, including the race last Saturday, is preparation for the 200 metres. No problem there. However, it must be noted that scientists discovered Viagra while working on a cure for hypertension.
BOLT... being touted as potential Olympic champion
Dig this quote: "On its way to becoming Viagra, UK-92,480 changed from a drug for hypertension to a drug for angina, and then changed again when a 10-day toleration study in Wales turned up an unusual side effect."
Interestingly, Bolt started as a high jumper. The side effect being experienced by Bolt is that he is now being penned in as a potential Olympic champion in short order. And if that is not enough for the young man, some believe he has the mettle to win not one, not two, but three gold medals in 2008. Dreams, dreams, dreams.
Usually it takes a long time and the most meticulous preparation to conjure up a 'bomb'. But in a matter of only 9.76 seconds, Usain Bolt, ably guided by the experienced tutor Mills, has blown the sprint world apart. This world will never be the same again.
Overnight, the boy from Trelawny has evolved from one of the players in the game to one of the leaders of the team. In a flash, he has been transformed from a prince into a potential emperor, or perhaps more appropriately, from the ring bearer into the potential groom.
OK. So it wasn't overnight. The process has been bubbling since 2002. But bear this in mind. A major percentage of sprint champions at the youth levels fades away on passing mile post 20.
Also, how many men who run 'only' the 200 metres become poster boys for posterity? Fact is, presently, short sprinters are defined not by the speed of their 200, but by their exploits in the crown jewel of the sport, the 100 metre dash.
But what the heck is 9.76? What does this number mean? Apart from being the second fastest time ever run, consider this. It would have been the world record nine months ago were it not for Asafa Powell's 9.74.
Bolt's improvement from a nobody in the event to 10.03 to 9.76 in three races ranks alongside a black woman winning the presidency of the United States. Simply unthinkable. In my mind, this ranks just below the 29'2" jump by Bob Beamon in 1968. Hopefully Bolt will not repeat a 'Beamon' who never came close to those lofty heights afterwards.
Flojo's improvement from 10.96 to 10.49 in1988, or by .47 seconds, is well documented. Steroids and a suspect wind reading are credited.
Bolt is famous for making big improvements. He moved from 21.73secs in 2001 to 20.61secs in 2002 to 20.13secs in 2003 to 19.93secs the following year and progressed after injuries to the current 19.75secs last year.
Expect a big move in this event in a short while. He also arrived from nowhere to run 45.35 in 2003 and jogged 45.28 last year. He would now rank near the top of the most versatile sprinters (100, 200, 400) in the world, just below legends like the late Herb McKenley and Michael Johnson.
And what are the implications of 9.76 for Bolt? Firstly,the majority of the world will throw him in the 'suspect' basket. After only three races, amateur or professional, he moved from 10.03 in July 2007 to 10.03 in March, and now this 'bomb.'
Every athlete who has managed to crack the 9.80secs barrier, including our beloved Asafa, will have to live with this tag. Heck,the lot includes Ben Johnson, Tim Montgomery and Justlin Gatlin. You can't blame the police if you are under surveillance while living in their neck of the woods.
Secondly, he has stumbled on a potential gold mine. To get to the gold mine, he will have to be consistent; not running 9.76 every day, but a 'simple' sub-10 clocking will suffice.
The management teams of Powell and Tyson Gay played hide-and-seek while the world waited for ages last year. Bolt's emergence highlights a new dynamic and a meet promoters' dream. There is no place to run or hide for either of the three, and big clashes will take place with or without anyone who may want to hold out.
And if Bolt goes on to win the gold in Beijing, we could see the Olympic gold medallist, the World Champion and the World record-holder hooking up. Wow!
Thirdly, Bolt is now considered a threat to our King.This is most tricky. This is as much a mental battle as a physical war. He will have to condition himself, or be conditioned, to crush his good friend and teammate, King Asafa.
However, unlike in the past when they had to hide in the dark to assassinate Emperor Caesar, this will have to be planned and executed in broad daylight in the glare of millions.
To add to the mix, Mills and Stephen Francis are good friends and both athletes are trained locally at Stadium East - sometimes simultaneously!
Bolt's mental capacity to tackle and succeed in the big ones has never been questioned. The bigger the occasion, the bigger the man. On the other hand, Asafa still lives in a shadow of uncertainty. The match-ups could be the stuff of dreams. Of course, the intrigue is being heightened as Asafa recovers from an injury.
It's no small feat for Jamaica's track & field to have produced the two fastest men ever - at the same moment in time. And to put icing on the cake, they are guided by local coaches. Soon the world will be coming here to learn our secret - and to test our water!
Undoubtedly, Powell's exploits have forced the international spotlight on Jamaica over the past three years. However, the show has just begun. Races between the two should blow up the good side of Jamaica's image like a neutron bomb - providing Bolt shows consistency. Some men will say this ranks right up there with Viagra!
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