04/23/24
August 16, 2009
Usain Bold faster than Usain Bolt: Earlier today in Germany, Usain Bolt ran the 100 meters in 9.58 seconds, shattering his previous record by .13 seconds. Tyson Gay sets a new American record of 9.71 seconds while coming in second place. Bolt's fellow countryman, Asafa Powell, came in third place at 9.84 seconds.
I think I could go 9.4 but I think the world stops at 9.4
That .11 improvement is the biggest jump in the 100 meter world record in the history of electronic timing.
posted by rcade at 05:14 PM on August 16, 2009
Fucking hell. Remember when track world records were only broken when 'conditions were right'? Bolt seems to be able to call it up at will, especially in the finals of major championships. Only then does he look like he's trying.
posted by owlhouse at 05:32 PM on August 16, 2009
Remember when track world records were only broken when 'conditions were right'?
The announcers on NBC mentioned that they were running against the wind today.
posted by NoMich at 05:43 PM on August 16, 2009
The announcers on NBC mentioned that they were running against the wind today.
...and the BBC was saying yesterday that Berlin has a "slow track". I guess that depends on who's running on it.
posted by afx237vi at 06:22 PM on August 16, 2009
In the Dutch commentary in that video, they said something like 'der atmosphere ist prima'. Maybe that had something to do with it.
posted by owlhouse at 06:25 PM on August 16, 2009
Kudos to NBC for showing it live, though that might have been after a few stern words from the IAAF after Beijing. (Still not a patch on the BBC, which takes athletics seriously, and an even unhealthier interest in home-country also-rans, but small steps.)
That was a serious holy-eff race. I don't think the atmosphere was quite as charged as Beijing, where it was all about what Bolt might do, as opposed to what he'd already done, but at about 30m, it was became about the time.
9.84, the time that won Donovan Bailey the 1996 gold in Atlanta, now gets you the bronze. And as this nice Wikipedia page shows, it took until 2005 for this generation of sprinters to make its impact.
Lots of smart people still think Bolt might be a better 200/400 runner than 100/200. If he concentrates on the 400m, then Michael Johnson's 43.18, set ten years ago, can't be safe. But it may be some time before he moves up.
posted by etagloh at 07:35 PM on August 16, 2009
Just saw the replay on Versus. 1. I was amazed how loose he was before the race --playing to the camera, joking with Powell. 2. Usain seemed to be in the lead after fjust four steps. Probably if he sees the little mistakes made -- he's not perfect -- 9.50 may not be safe.
posted by jjzucal at 08:59 PM on August 16, 2009
That's incredible!
posted by Spitztengle at 01:43 AM on August 17, 2009
Bolt is incredible. To joking around before the race, dominating the race, breaking a record and then back to playing to the cameras. This guy is simply amazing!
posted by BornIcon at 09:29 AM on August 17, 2009
He is insanely fast. I can't believe how far he is ahead of his competitors.
posted by bperk at 11:29 AM on August 17, 2009
Michael Johnson gobsmacked (while Denise Lewis and Colin Jackson go wild) in the BBC commentary box.
posted by etagloh at 02:04 PM on August 17, 2009
Sweet tap-dancing Jeebus.