Usain Bolts to stardom

A legend now after the success in 100 and 200m:

Dinesh WEERAWANSA reporting from England

The modern summer Olympic Games, since its inception way back in 1896 would have produced many champion sprinters, but not of the calibre of Usain Bolt, the Jamaican sprint merchant.

Coming out with another blistering dash under lights at the Olympic Stadium in the British capital last night, Bolt not only secured the legendary status he craved with the men's 200m gold medal but also became the first man ever to win the Olympic Games sprint double twice in succession.

His winning time of 19.32 seconds was outside his own world mark of 19.19 which he felt might be a possibility, but the packed stadium had witnessed one such feat as Kenyan David Rudisha stormed to 800m gold in one minute and 40.91 seconds, taking 0.10 off his own record.

There was a packed stadium of over 80,000 people and there was pin drop silence as the eight finalists in the men's 200m of the XXXth Olympic Games came under the starter's order. Bolt postponed accepting the legendary status accorded on him by millions for winning triple gold at the last Olympic Games in Beijing, 2008. Having emerged as the fastest man ever in the 116-year-old Olympic Games history a few days ago, he categorically stated that he could only be considered a legend if he wins the men's 200m golf as well.

Running in ‘lucky seven’ lane, the 26-year-old successfully defended his men's 200m title. It was all-night celebrations for Jamaicans as they made a clean sweep in the men's 200m final by winning all three medals that were on offer. Joining Bolt in the ‘Jamaican medal carnival’ were his training partner Yohan Blake (a season's best 19.44) and ‘new invention’ from the Caribbean Warren Weir (a personal best 19.84). The future of the Jamaican sprint supremacy could well be imagined when considering the fact that both Blake and Weir are under 22 years.

American Wallace Spearmon clocked a season's best 19.90 but that was not good enough to take him to the 200m victory podium.

Bolt, Blake and Weir were at the most appropriate place to mastermind a late Jamaican national day celebrations - the capital of the country which ruled them until 1962. It was only three days ago that former British colony Jamaica celebrated its 50th national day after gaining independence on August 6, 1962.

As usual, Bolt was not the fastest out of blocks as Blake was in the lead until the halfway mark. It was at the bend that Blake fired all his cylinders and changed to the top gear to go past the finish like a bullet. It appeared as if Bolt, well aware of the fact that he was in total control but not with a chance of bettering his own world record, was relaxing somewhat in the last 20m.

He appeared to be playing seconds before the race and immediately after the victorious dash, he knelt down in the track to thank the Lord for all what he has got.

Bolt then grabbed a green and yellow Jamaican flag and joined the victory lap with his teammates. On the way, he jumped near a stand to point at his name on a T-shirt worn by a proud and enthusiastic Jamaican spectator.

Bolt celebrated the victory in his own style, grabbing a camera from a Jamaican teammate and doing a photographer's job. He took a few photographs of thousands of cheering spectators and then asked compatriot Blake to pose for a few photographs. Having acknowledged the cheering spectators with his customary action, Bolt did not forget to go near the finish line, kneel on the lane seven which brought fortune for him and kissed the track before returning to the dressing room. Bolt's path to London success too has some anxious moments. He had lost to Blake over 100m and 200m at the Jamaican trials - and later underwent treatment on a stiff back which was causing hamstring problems.

Asked about lowering the world record he set when winning the world title in Berlin in 2009, Bolt said: ‘I think it was possible, but I guess I wasn't fit enough. I was fast but I wasn't fit enough,” he said. Bolt accepted the fact that he was relaxing at the end because there was no possibility of a world record. “I came off the corner, I could feel the strain on my back a little bit so I was trying to keep my form, but I stopped running because I knew it wasn't going to be a world record. When I came off the corner I could feel it,” he said.

“It was hard. I really dedicated myself, to my work, I knew what London meant to me. I came here and I gave it my all and I'm proud of myself. I didn't get a world record - I really wanted to do it in the 200m - but I'm happy what I am,” he added. LONDON, Friday.