Bolt claims gold, smashes record, vows to quit partying
Usain Bolt smashed his own 100 metres world record by winning in 9.58 seconds to claim gold at the World Championships in Berlin.
Bolt today vowed to put the partying on hold despite smashing his record.
The triple Olympic champion stormed to victory in the Olympic Stadium in 9.58 seconds, comfortably beating the mark of 9.69secs he set in Beijing last year.
Defending champion Tyson Gay set an American record of 9.71 to claim the silver, with former world record holder Asafa Powell third in 9.84.
Bolt’s coach Glen Mills had predicted after the Olympics that his protege could run 9.54 and was so nearly proved spot on.
Unlike in Beijing, this time Bolt’s shoelaces remained tied and there was no celebrating with arms outstretched metres from the line.
Instead, the 22-year-old had to content himself with a couple of glances from side to side as he approached the line, before staring intently at the clock as he waited for the time to register.
“I was feeling good after the semis. I knew it was going to be a great race and I executed it,” Bolt said. “It’s a great time, a great feeling. I feel good in myself and I knew I could do it.
“There was a big build up, a great atmosphere. It wasn’t going to be an easy race but I had a perfect start and just went from there.
“I came out here to do my best and I did what I had to do. There’ll be no partying for me ahead of Tuesday. I’ll rest up as always, I need to rest up for the 200m.”
Bolt had shrugged off two false starts in the semi-finals – the second of which saw Britain’s Tyrone Edgar disqualified – to breeze into the final.
Bolt was guilty of the first false start, which meant any athlete guilty of another would be disqualified.
But after Edgar had committed that second misdemeanour and left the track, Bolt was quickly out of his blocks and almost as quickly began easing down to a brilliant time of 9.89.
That indicated something special was on the cards and the Jamaican superstar duly delivered, powering out of the blocks at the first time of asking in the final and seizing control of the race within 30m.
Gay, who ran the third fastest time ever and was still comfortably beaten, said: “I ran the best I could. I just wanted to give my best tonight, it wasn’t enough but I’m happy to have the national record.
“I knew I had to put out a championship performance. I gave it my best and that’s all I could do.”
Powell, who has been struggling with an ankle injury this season, added: “I was relaxed before the race. A lot of things have happened this year but to come back and get third place, I’m very happy.
“When I saw the time, I knew I had to go out and catch him. But even after the finish I couldn’t catch him.”
Chambers, who had only finished second behind Simeon Williamson in the trials last month, saw his “Project Bolt” come to nothing but could have reason to be pleased with his performance at the age of 31.
“It doesn’t get any easier when you get older but it’s all worth it. Competing against the rest of the world is great,” he added.
“I am going to recuperate, have fun with the rest of the team and get ready for the 200m and have fun.”
July 8, 1912 – DONALD LIPPINCOTT 10.6
April 23, 1921 – CHARLES PADDOCK 10.4
August 9, 1930 – PERCY WILLIAMS 10.3
June 20, 1936 – JESSE OWENS 10.2
August 3, 1956 – WILLIE WILLIAMS 10.1
June 21, 1960 – ARMIN HARY 10.0
(all the above measured by hand-timing)
October 14, 1968 – JIM HINES 9.95
July 3, 1983 – CALVIN SMITH 9.93
September 24, 1988 – CARL LEWIS 9.92
June 14, 1991 – LEROY BURRELL 9.90
August 25, 1991 – CARL LEWIS 9.86
July 6, 1994 – LEROY BURRELL 9.85
July 29, 1996 – DONOVAN BAILEY 9.84
June 16, 1999 – MAURICE GREENE 9.79
June 14, 2005 – ASAFA POWELL 9.77
September 9, 2007 – ASAFA POWELL 9.74
May 31, 2008 – USAIN BOLT 9.72
August 16, 2008 – USAIN BOLT 9.69
August 16, 2009 – USAIN BOLT 9.58
(all the above measured by electronic timing).
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