Lightning strikes twice

The Jamaican wunderkind hurtled to his second world record and his second Olympic gold medal, finishing the 200-metre race in 19.30 seconds to break Michael Johnson’s 12-year-old mark. In doing so he became the first man ever to break the world record in both the 100 and 200 at the same Olympics and the first since Carl Lewis in 1984 to win the sprint double.

That he did it was one thing — how he did it was even more memorable. He beat Churandy Martina by 0.52 seconds — about four body lengths — the largest margin of victory in an Olympic 200 since the first race in 1900.

The last man to hold both world records simultaneously was none other than Donald Quarrie, the 1970s Jamaican star whom Bolt said he always wanted to pattern his running after.

Now Bolt has done both.

He had this one won about halfway through, but unlike his record-setting performance in the 100 four nights before, there was no hot-dogging, no celebrating until he crossed the line. He went hard all the way, looking at the clock down the stretch, leaning at the line, knowing that Johnson’s venerable mark was within reach.

When he saw the number come up — a number that never has before — he raised his arms, then fell flat to his back, arms and legs outstretched, and basked in the roar of the Bird’s Nest crowd.

Wallace Spearmon of the United States finished third but was disqualified for leaving his lane. He was celebrating along with Bolt — even picking up his friend — carrying the American flag around the track for several minutes after the race and was shocked when an official told him of the DQ.

Crawford takes silver

... contd.