Bolt: I have nothing left to prove

Paul Giblin
0 Comment(s)Print E-mail Xinhua, August 10, 2012
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By Sportswriter Paul Giblin

LONDON, Aug. 9 (Xinhua) -- Usain Bolt did what he promised he would do as the Jamaican sprint maestro won the gold medal in the 200 meters with a totally dominant display of sprinting.

Bolt won the race in in commanding style, getting a flying start and running a fine bend to put him a meter and a half over his only possible rival on the night, Yohan Blake.

It briefly, very briefly, looked as if Blake would close on the maestro, but it never happened as Bolt found another gear and powered over the line with Blake second and Warren Weir giving Jamaica 1-2-3.

As if to rub in his dominance Bolt celebrated with a series of press-ups for the waiting cameraman who had gathered in hordes behind the finishing line.

The win means Bolt has become the only man to win gold in the 100 and 200 meters in successive Olympics, so there was no reason for false modesty.

"It's what I came here to do. I'm now a legend, I'm also the greatest athlete to live. I am in the same category as Michael Johnson (the legendary American 200 and 400 meter runner). I'm honored. It's all about Michael Johnson for me for me. I grew up watching him break world records. He's a great athlete," said Bolt.

"I did what I wanted. I came out of a rough season and I did what I had to do," he said.

The race was the second showdown of the Games between Bolt and Blake after Bolt had won gold in the 100 meters with an Olympic record of 9.63 seconds, the second fastest time in history.

But nobody had forgotten that Blake had beaten Bolt in the 200 meters in the Jamaican trials and looking to repeat the triumph on the track in London and he had run the fastest 200 of 2012 and 2011 to help back up his claims.

He went ever better in the final, finishing with a season's best of 19.44, but Bolt once again showed he can turn on the speed when it is needed, before admitting it had not been as easy as it may have looked.

"The 200m was harder than I expected. I could feel the pressure coming off the bend and that's when I had to focus. It's all about the 4x100m now, to have some fun and go out there and do our best," said Bolt, who was delighted at his country's sprint dominance

"It's wonderful. Jamaica has proven that we are the greatest sprint country. I know my coach is going crazy now. We worked on it the whole season. He pushed us very hard," he continued.

Bolt has hinted that he would like a future in football, but the greatest sprinter the World has ever seen has plenty of short term plans

"I've got nothing left to prove. I've showed the world I'm the best and, right now, I just want to enjoy myself. This is my moment. I'll never forget this," he commented. Bearing in mind that Bolt was has already been photographed with a trio of Swedish handball players in the early hours of the morning following his 100th meter win, London had better brace itself. Enditem

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