His name is Bolt

Usain Bolt bites off such obscene chunks from sprint records that it is easy to forget that this Age of Bolt could actually be a truly golden age for sport. In the world championships in Berlin on Thursday night,Bolt came to the 200m final confessing that he was tired,as he could be after earlier snipping by 0.11 seconds the record he set at the Beijing Olympics a year ago. So,he was expected to win,but not shatter his earlier best,the 19.30 seconds he ran in Beijing to shatter Michael Johnsons longstanding record of 19.32 seconds. But,that 0.11 shift is Bolts calling card this season,and he actually ran 19.19 seconds. You have to hope that Bolt continues to test negative,because what he is doing is asking athletics noblest question: can one really set limits to human endeavour?

Bolt,of course,is being asked a more specific question. Can he find it in his almost casual openness to challenge to run yet another distance,the 400m for instance? The question is valuable for more than the spectacle it could offer. Because,as in the case of Michael Phelps,Bolts feats are susceptible to churlish dismissals,that they are aided by technological improvements in competing venues and in apparel. Phelps,prone to reflective consideration of his accomplishments in contrast to Bolts energetic flamboyance,clinched his case at Beijing by packing in racing schedule that would defy most serious swimmers and taking seven of his record haul of eight gold with world records and then by continuing to set new records this year. Bolt,with his repeat of his Beijing one-two step world record gold,has similarly shown that it is unwise to assert limits to human capacity.

Phelps and Bolt are in their early 20s,possibly still short of their prime. So if you have wagered that their new records will stay a-while,be very scared.