Early morning of May 31, 2008. It’s been 15 years since the whole world confused in front of the greatness of a splash, which was to develop into leading sprinter of all time. On a day like today in 2008, Mr Usain Bolt became the fastest man in the world. In fact, he became lightning man. A lightning bolt, which first struck at the Reebok Grand Prix of New York, causing a bang.
The Jamaican, at the age of 21 at the time and while until recently he declared that his main event is the 200 metersran the one breath race in 9.72”breaking the 9.74” held by his compatriot Asafa Powell. Unsuspecting journalists and spectators, they were cheering trying to figure out what happened. But how could they know what would happen in the following years…
After the race, holding a flag of his country and as well 6,000 spectatorsincluding several of his countrymen cheering him on, Bolt declared: “I wasn’t aiming for a record, but the opportunity presented itself and I ran as fast as I could. My big goal is a gold medal in a big event. A record cannot be compared to a medal. There is real value in winning an Olympic or World Championship medal. If you are the fastest person in the world, someone may overtake you the next day. If you’re an Olympic gold medalist, it should be four years before someone has a chance to surpass you. That’s why my big goal is Beijing».
In the Chinese capital, a year later, Bolt did 9.69”. Even that, however, was not enough for him. In 2009, in Berlin, this unlikely child prodigy from Kingston broke the timers… furtherwith 9.58”. Will anyone ever be found to bring it down?
The evolution of world records in the 100 meters:
10.6 Donald Lippincott (USA) 7/6/1912
10.4 Charles Paddock (USA) 23.4.1921
10.3 Percy Williams (Canada) 9.8.1930
10.2 Jesse Owens (USA) 20.6.1936
10.1 Willie Williams (USA) 3.8.1956
10.0 Armin Harry (West Germany) 21.6.1960
9.95 Jim Hines (USA) 14.10.1968
9.93 Calvin Smith (USA) 3.7.1983
9.92 Carl Lewis (USA) 24.9.1988
9.90 Leroy Burrell (USA) 14.6.1991
9.86 Carl Lewis (USA) 25.8.1991
9.85 Leroy Burrell (USA) 7/6/1994
9.84 Donovan Bailey (Canada) 27.7.1996
9.79 Maurice Greene (USA) 16.6.1999
9.77 Asafa Powell (Jamaica) 14.6.2005
9.74 Asafa Powell (Jamaica) 9.9.2007
9.72 Usain Bolt (Jamaica) 31.5.2008
9.69 Usain Bolt (Jamaica) 16.8.2008
9.58 Usain Bolt (Jamaica) 16.8.2009
I am currently a news writer for News Bulletin247 where I mostly cover sports news. I have always been interested in writing and it is something I am very passionate about. In my spare time, I enjoy reading and spending time with my family and friends.
