IN terms of time, Mr Usain Bolt's 100-m gold medal run at the 14th IAAF World Athletics Championships in Moscow yesterday is considerably behind some performances in the past.
Those who saw it are unlikely to ever forget his 9.69 seconds at the Beijing Olympics in 2008, exuberantly celebrating, metres before the line. We won't easily forget that super-human run of 9.58 seconds at the Berlin World Champs in 2009 — the current world record — nor his 9.63 at the London Olympics last year.
Yet, if anything, the circumstances and manner of yesterday's run provided even more fodder for those who argue that not only is Mr Bolt the greatest-ever sprinter, but the greatest-ever track athlete.
To begin with, Mr Bolt obviously could have gone much faster than his 9.77 yesterday. He appeared to ease once he realised he had conquered the admirably strong-willed American Mr Justin Gatlin. Rather than push hard for the tape as the end approached, Mr Bolt seemed focused on the big screen, presumably in order to monitor the progress of the other competitors.
The post-race interviews provided the explanation. After the semi-final, he told TVJ's interviewer, he didn't feel he was in the "shape" he wanted to be. Had he been in "better shape" he would have gone faster, he said.
He was later quoted as saying he felt "soreness" in his legs after the semi-finals.
To those of us watching, it seemed that had he been under threat, Mr Bolt would have gone much faster even with the discomfort. Having visibly eased to the line, Mr Bolt won comfortably ahead of Mr Gatlin who clocked 9.85 seconds.
TVJ analyst Mr Bruce James contextualised the performance reminding us that just six years ago, Mr Asafa Powell's 9.77 was a new world record.
We are left to wonder: How much faster could Mr Bolt have gone yesterday had he felt himself to be in tip-top shape and/or had he felt threatened?
Powerful personality that he is, we have no doubt that Mr Bolt will overcome physical discomfort to further entrance the world in the 200m and sprint relay to come. Now more than ever, given the long shadow cast by the use of banned substances, Mr Bolt needs to consistently excel for the good of his sport.
Mr Bolt wasn't the only Jamaican deserving of our praise yesterday. Mr Nesta Carter, so often the forgotten man, fought all the way to take the bronze, his first individual medal at this level. In the process, he pushed back rising stars, fellow countrymen Messrs Kemar Bailey-Cole and Nickel Ashmeade to fourth and fifth.
We are told that Jamaica's four finalists in the men's 100m at the World Champs was a first for any country. This was despite the absence of the defending champion Mr Yohan Blake because of injury. Yet more evidence of the power of Jamaican track athletics.
Again, this newspaper must pay tribute to our coaches and track administrators at all levels, who by dint of hard work, dedication, planning and organisation have made such success possible for our athletes.
They should serve as an example to Jamaicans in every aspect of life.
Those who saw it are unlikely to ever forget his 9.69 seconds at the Beijing Olympics in 2008, exuberantly celebrating, metres before the line. We won't easily forget that super-human run of 9.58 seconds at the Berlin World Champs in 2009 — the current world record — nor his 9.63 at the London Olympics last year.
Yet, if anything, the circumstances and manner of yesterday's run provided even more fodder for those who argue that not only is Mr Bolt the greatest-ever sprinter, but the greatest-ever track athlete.
To begin with, Mr Bolt obviously could have gone much faster than his 9.77 yesterday. He appeared to ease once he realised he had conquered the admirably strong-willed American Mr Justin Gatlin. Rather than push hard for the tape as the end approached, Mr Bolt seemed focused on the big screen, presumably in order to monitor the progress of the other competitors.
The post-race interviews provided the explanation. After the semi-final, he told TVJ's interviewer, he didn't feel he was in the "shape" he wanted to be. Had he been in "better shape" he would have gone faster, he said.
He was later quoted as saying he felt "soreness" in his legs after the semi-finals.
To those of us watching, it seemed that had he been under threat, Mr Bolt would have gone much faster even with the discomfort. Having visibly eased to the line, Mr Bolt won comfortably ahead of Mr Gatlin who clocked 9.85 seconds.
TVJ analyst Mr Bruce James contextualised the performance reminding us that just six years ago, Mr Asafa Powell's 9.77 was a new world record.
We are left to wonder: How much faster could Mr Bolt have gone yesterday had he felt himself to be in tip-top shape and/or had he felt threatened?
Powerful personality that he is, we have no doubt that Mr Bolt will overcome physical discomfort to further entrance the world in the 200m and sprint relay to come. Now more than ever, given the long shadow cast by the use of banned substances, Mr Bolt needs to consistently excel for the good of his sport.
Mr Bolt wasn't the only Jamaican deserving of our praise yesterday. Mr Nesta Carter, so often the forgotten man, fought all the way to take the bronze, his first individual medal at this level. In the process, he pushed back rising stars, fellow countrymen Messrs Kemar Bailey-Cole and Nickel Ashmeade to fourth and fifth.
We are told that Jamaica's four finalists in the men's 100m at the World Champs was a first for any country. This was despite the absence of the defending champion Mr Yohan Blake because of injury. Yet more evidence of the power of Jamaican track athletics.
Again, this newspaper must pay tribute to our coaches and track administrators at all levels, who by dint of hard work, dedication, planning and organisation have made such success possible for our athletes.
They should serve as an example to Jamaicans in every aspect of life.
