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100m Sprint in Beijing

Quase um ano depois, a descrição da prova mais rápida do mundo nas Olimpíadas 2008

2008 Beijing // Competitors: 80, Nations: 65, Day: 8/16 WR: 9.72 (Usain Bolt)

1. Usain Bolt (JAM) - 9.69 WR
2. Richard Thompson (TRI) - 9.89
3. Waler Dix (USA) - 9.91
4. Churandy Martina (AHO) - 9.93
5. Asafa Powell (JAM) - 9.95
6. Michael Frater (JAM) - 9.97
7. Marc Burns (TRI) - 10.01
8. Darvis Patton (USA) - 10.03

On May 31, 2008, the 21 year-old Jamaican Usain Bolt ran an astonishing 9.72s in New York, USA, to break the previous world record set by Asafa Powell, his teammate. Powell, fifth at the 2004 Olympics, had run in 9.74 two years after, but he was not in best shape at the time of the Beijing Olympics. They were considered favorites to win the gold in Beijing, besides Tyson Gay.

The three Americans who ran for U.S in Beijing (from left) - Patton, Gay and Dix

The American sprinter, who completed 26 years old one day after the Olympics Opening Ceremony, had won the 2007 World Championships in Osaka, Japan. At the US Olympic trails, Gay confirmed his winning chances, running the final in an amazing 9.68s, which was not allowed as World Record because was wind-aided.
In addition to them, the other possible medal contenders were almost all from the same countries. From USA, Darvis Patton (who took part on the winning 4 x 100m relay team at the World Championship) and Walter Dix, whose best event was the 200m anyway, were probably finalists. From Jamaica, Bolt and Powell’s teammate was Michael Frater, silver medalist in Helsinki 2005 World Championship.
There were 80 contenders taking part in the event, so, they were separated in 10 heats of eight runners. At that Olympics, a new rule was created to the lanes. The track had nine lanes, so, the sprinters were put to run from the lane 2 to 9 to avoid smashing lane 1 because of the long-distance races. The first round was held in the morning of August 15. The three Jamaicans recorded times under 10.20, easing up at the final meters. The fastest mark, however, was set by Tyrone Edgar from Great Britain, in 10.13.
Later on the same day, they ran the quarterfinals. Then, two more runners appeared as possible medal contenders. Churandy Martina, from the small island of the Netherlands Antilles, ran a National record of 9.99 to win his heat. From another Caribbean island, Trinidad & Tobago, Richard Thompson won the next race with the same time. But the astonishing man was Bolt, who won his race easily, like jogging, in 9.92. The 1,92 meter Jamaican, with long strides, left his quarterfinal heat as the favorite to gold medal, because Tyson Gay, despite qualifying, looked like suffering some injury, and left the track in pain.
The semifinals were held on the next day. At the first race, Bolt won easily again, with 9.85, good enough to win any Olympic Gold medal but Atlanta-1996. Behind him, Waler Dix, Marc Burns from Trinidad & Tobago and Michael Frater were also able to qualify, the last one running in 10.01.

Bolt won all his heats before the final, always easing up at the final strides

At the second heat, Asafa Powell crossed the finish line in first, with 9.91 followed nearly by Thompson and Martina, who set the both personal bests of 9.93 and 9.94. The surprise came on the fight for the last room in the final: the world champion Gay, injured, was left behind for 0.02 by his teammate Darvis Patton and was unable to qualify.

Powell won his semifinal to take part at the second 100m Olympic final in a row

Then, the final on the Bird’s Nest was held in the night of August 16. Eight black runners took position at the starting line. Asafa Powell was the only who had run the final in the Athens Olympics, four years before. They took off right on the first try, nobody false started. The fastest two men to react the gun was Dix and Thompson. Bolt, on the other hand, was the second slowest to start, but he was already known to do that. Thompson and Dix were still leading at the 40 meter mark, then Bolt started his sprint. With strong strides, he passed the both and pulled away with a fantastic sprint. He crossed the finish line with a new world record time of 9.69, amazing two tenths ahead Thompson, second, and 0.22 ahead Dix, who got the bronze. Bolt’s margin of victory was the largest in Olympic Games since 1964. But the most impressive thing was the way Bolt won. When he learned his lead was large and he was on the way to win, he eased up with ten meters to go, chest slapping and smiling to the crowd.

In joy, Bolt took off his spikes, waved to the crowd and said: "I´m the number one!"

That action was condemned by many people, including the IOC’s president, Jacques Rogge, but showed that the 100 meter World Record can be lowered more times soon. Probably, would be beaten by Usain Bolt.

Rafael Neves