The Athletics Thread (... but predominantly about Bolt)

[Shaggy]

Triple Olympic champion Usain Bolt ran the fourth-fastest 200m time in history as he stormed to victory in appalling conditions at the Lausanne Grand Prix.

Bolt ran 19.59 seconds despite a strong headwind and heavy rain in Switzerland.

Olympic 400m champion Lashawn Merritt was second with Shawn Crawford fourth, while Asafa Powell won the 100m.

Asked if he would have broken the world record in better weather Bolt said: "I don't even think of it in those terms, I was just trying to test myself."

The 22-year-old Jamaican admitted that there was still room for improvement ahead of next month's world championships, but was otherwise pleased with his form.

"I'm in good shape, but I'm not fully ready yet. I still need to work on a few technical things," said the 100m and 200m world record holder.

Powell and Shelly-Ann Fraser continued Jamaica's domination in the sprints as they won the men's and women's 100m respectively.

Powell finished comfortably ahead of compatriot Steve Mullings in a time of 10.07 seconds, with American Mike Rodgers third.

Fraser won the women's 100m in 11.03, ahead of American Carmelita Jeter.

606: DEBATE
What a performance by Bolt, 19.59 on a wet track and into a headwind!

djkbrown2001
BBC Radio 5 Live's athletic's correspondent Mike Costello said Bolt's stunning performance showed that "any Beijing hangover is beginning to dissolve".

"The sport's greatest attraction showed that he is now back to his best," added Costello.

"The time was one-hundredth of a second slower than American Tyson Gay ran in New York five weeks ago.

"But whereas Gay had the conditions very much in his favour, Bolt ran in driving rain and a strong headwind.

"Bolt versus Gay at the world championships in Berlin next month will be contests to savour."

Costello added that Powell's display in the 100m meant he "could frighten even Bolt and Gay" in Germany.

[zimbo]

Triple Olympic champion Usain Bolt ran the fourth-fastest 200m time in history as he stormed to victory in appalling conditions at the Lausanne Grand Prix.

Bolt ran 19.59 seconds despite a strong headwind and heavy rain in Switzerland.

Olympic 400m champion Lashawn Merritt was second with Shawn Crawford fourth, while Asafa Powell won the 100m.

Asked if he would have broken the world record in better weather Bolt said: "I don't even think of it in those terms, I was just trying to test myself."

The 22-year-old Jamaican admitted that there was still room for improvement ahead of next month's world championships, but was otherwise pleased with his form.

"I'm in good shape, but I'm not fully ready yet. I still need to work on a few technical things," said the 100m and 200m world record holder.

Powell and Shelly-Ann Fraser continued Jamaica's domination in the sprints as they won the men's and women's 100m respectively.

Powell finished comfortably ahead of compatriot Steve Mullings in a time of 10.07 seconds, with American Mike Rodgers third.

Fraser won the women's 100m in 11.03, ahead of American Carmelita Jeter.

606: DEBATE
What a performance by Bolt, 19.59 on a wet track and into a headwind!

djkbrown2001
BBC Radio 5 Live's athletic's correspondent Mike Costello said Bolt's stunning performance showed that "any Beijing hangover is beginning to dissolve".

"The sport's greatest attraction showed that he is now back to his best," added Costello.

"The time was one-hundredth of a second slower than American Tyson Gay ran in New York five weeks ago.

"But whereas Gay had the conditions very much in his favour, Bolt ran in driving rain and a strong headwind.

"Bolt versus Gay at the world championships in Berlin next month will be contests to savour."

Costello added that Powell's display in the 100m meant he "could frighten even Bolt and Gay" in Germany.

Given his track record in major events, unless he's running in one of those 'Scream' masks I think that's unlikely.

Anyone know if the athletics is going to picked up by anyone now Setanta have biffed out? My wife is doing her nut. There were rumours that BBC were looking into taking it on but wouldn't decide until after Wombledon, but I've heard nothing .

[Ben_Itez]

Wont be long til he sets new records for both the 100m and 200m IMO. He's an absolute phenomenon.

He'll smash the 400m record too in the next few years.

[tsb]

A living legend. Totally defies common expectations of sprinters (short, stocky etc..)

[Rich]

A living legend. Totally defies common expectations of sprinters (short, stocky etc..)

He's a freak of nature, he's like a supersized Carl Lewis.

Lewis relied on rapid leg speed, long stride pattern, and the ability to seemingly cut through air faster than his stockier, more powerful opponents.

[Pablo]

Wont be long til he sets new records for both the 100m and 200m IMO. He's an absolute phenomenon.

He'll smash the 400m record too in the next few years.

Yeah I cant wait to see him have a proper go at the 400m.

[Neil Young]

He's the Mark Cavendish of running.

[kemm1]

His first love is cricket just imagine if he stuck with it and became a pace bowler!

[Ben_Itez]

His first love is cricket just imagine if he stuck with it and became a pace bowler!

I think i read somewhere that he was firsted spotted by an athletics scout chasing a cover drive to the boundary and saving a certain four whilst playing for his local team.

[wiw]

He stopped his own cover drive?

[Helios Creed]

He was on Top Gear tonight - nice bloke and drove very well too. Although the picture of the M3 that he rolled while driving bare-footed () would say otherwise.

[Guest]

He won't beat Michael Johnson's record.

[Hollowman]

In the four, you mean? As he already snatched Johnson's two record. I don't see any reason why he can't do the four if he wants. The only problem is he's so in demand running the one, and mounting a serious attempt on the four will probably mean dropping the one for at least a season. The dude is a freak though. Nobody else has run within a quarter second of Johnson in the two, and Bolt took ran 19.3 into a ****ing headwind in Beijing. If the mother****er said he wanted to go in the forty-two points in the four, I wouldn't say **** to him.

[Helios Creed]

he said he didn't like the 400 as the training was hard, but my money's still on him breaking that too.

[JohnDoe]

Bolt's a class above any other. I'll never forget that 100m record, and I'll probably never see anything like it again.

He can break the 400m if he wants to in my opinion.