Orin Davidson
Two years ago a bet between a coach and his athlete had resulted in arguably the most miraculous feat in the world of athletics sprinting.
Usain Bolt was challenged to break the Jamaica 200 metres record for the reward of permission to compete in the 100 metres.
The “100” happens to be the most prestigious event in the sport. Any youngster who aspires to become an athletics star wants to be the 100 metres star and Bolt was no different. But he was already an established 200-metre world contender and all along Coach Mills never thought that his decision to give Bolt the freedom to match strides with the super fast in the track and field world, would amount to anything other than give his charge, speed work for his specialty event.
But if you know Bolt very well, it was evident the youngster is a blessed talent in all of the sprints.
At 15 years he beat the best in the world, 20 years and younger to win the 400 metres title at the world junior athletics championships.
He went on to set an Under-20 world record in the 200m.
Now, one miracle has led to another since that day coach Mills gave Bolt the freedom to bless the 100 metres with his ability.
In Bolt’s very first 100 metres run in practice he clocked 10.03 seconds, which Mills described as a walk.
Then, three weeks ago, he stunned the Caribbean and the rest of the world by clocking the second fastest 100 metres ever – a staggering 9.76s, to join his compatriot Jamaican Asafa Powell as the fastest men ever officially to cover the distance.
If any lingering doubts existed over the accuracy of the timing equipment or the wind gauge at the Jamaica National Stadium last month, Bolt eliminated it somewhat one week later when he cruised to a stunning 9.82, easing up considerably at the Trinidad Hampton Games.
Now, there can be no doubt, because when the 21-year-old Jamaican took the starting line Saturday night at the Icahn Stadium, in New York, the newest athletics facility in the United States, the equipment and organization were top of the line.
And, when Bolt electrified the track to shatter Powell’s 9.74s 100 metres world mark, with a phenomenal 9.72m run, he wrote his name in the books as the event’s most unlikely world-record holder and probably the most gifted ever.
Bolt ran the longest ever post race celebration jog ever, going around the entire 300 metres remainder of the track in exultation after seeing the electronic scoreboard register 9.71s, which was eventually adjusted to 9.72s.
The 90 percent partisan Jamaican crowd erupted and the stadium announcer was stunned into silence, because Bolt, who was competing in only his third official 100m, unbelievably had shattered the record and ripped to shreds, the aura of the man all America thinks is a shoo-in for Olympic gold – Tyson Gay.
The American had to settle for a distant second in 9.85s and even the sound system DJ reacted faster than the announcer by pounding out Jamaican reggae icon Bob Marley’s “Jamming”, before Bolt received his adulations from the former.
It took Ben Johnson years of training and heavy doses of steroids to set his discredited 9.78s world record and nine-time Olympic gold medalist Carl Lewis, his entire career to eventually have his share of the record.
Powell came on the scene and swiftly eclipsed Justin Gatlin’s drug-induced mark, but Bolt’s accomplishment happened like lightning.
Lewis, who attended Saturday’s Reebok sponsored meet, told this writer in an exclusive interview prior to the race on Saturday, that he had never seen Bolt run and had no opinion on his ability.
Now he has no choice but to accept the young Jamaican as track and field’s latest phenomenon.
Bolt’s feat has given Jamaica the perfect gift in this Olympic year, but it must have left his compatriot Powell quaking in his shoes at the thought of having his dream for that elusive Olympic gold, go up in smoke once again.
