Lightning strikes twice

That he did it was one thing 8212; how he did it was even more memorable. He beat Churandy Martina by 0.52 seconds 8212; about four body lengths 8212; 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 Quarrie and everyone else 8212; Lewis, Jesse Owens, any of the other six men to complete an Olympic 100-200 double 8212; takes a back seat. Nobody other than Johnson had ever run a 200 in under 19.6 and nobody had broken 9.7 in the 100 before Beijing.

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 Johnson8217;s venerable mark was within reach.

When he saw the number come up 8212; a number that never has before 8212; he raised his arms, then fell flat to his back, arms and legs outstretched, and basked in the roar of the Bird8217;s Nest crowd.

Wallace Spearmon of the United States finished third but was disqualified for leaving his lane. He was celebrating along with Bolt 8212; even picking up his friend 8212; 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

That gave team mate Shawn Crawford, the defending Olympic champion, the bronze medal, behind Churandy Martina of Netherlands Antilles. US officials later successfully protested Martina8217;s race, saying he stepped out of his lane. That pushed Crawford to an unexpected second spot. Indeed, Martina, Crawford and Spearmon were racing for second. Martina finished in 19.82, incredibly more than a half-second behind Bolt.

8220;Incredible,8221; Johnson, now the former record-holder, said after the race. 8220;He got an incredible start. Guys of 6-5 should not be able to start like that. It8217;s that long, massive stride. He8217;s eating up so much more track than others. He came in focused, knowing he would likely win the gold and he8217;s got the record.8221;

Bolt won the race on the eve of his 22nd birthday and a version of 8220;Happy Birthday8221; played over the public-address system as he took off his gold shoes and wrapped the Jamaican flag around his shoulders like a scarf.

He did another hip-swiveling dance, then raised his hands and pointed toward the scoreboard. A little later, he posed near the scoreboard 8212; the traditional picture that all world record-setters take. Bolt now has three of them 8212; this, the 100 from Saturday and the picture he took in New York in May when he broke the 100 record the first time.

8220;You8217;re back there giving it everything you8217;ve got 8212; it8217;s brutal,8221; said Kim Collins, the 2003 world champ who finished seventh. 8220;He8217;s doing it and making it look so simple. Michael Johnson did it, and it didn8217;t look that easy.8221;

And while Michael Phelps and his eight swimming golds may be The Story of these Olympics, Bolt8217;s sheer dominance in the most basic tests of speed there are will not soon be surpassed 8212; unless he does it himself.