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The Lightning Bolt Road Show!!

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Socapro:
http://www.guardian.co.tt/olympics/2012-08-12/fans-really-enjoy-world-record-says-superstar-bolt

Fans really enjoy a world record says superstar Bolt
Published: Monday, August 13, 2012

LONDON—This time, Usain Bolt ran hard right to the finish. He even leaned at the line. Having built a big lead on the 4x100-metre relay anchor leg, Bolt knew he was about to earn his third gold medal in three events at the London Olympics. What he really wanted Saturday night was a world record, the only thing missing from his 2012 Games. So the Jamaican dispensed with the sort of “Look at me!” stuff he’s done at the end of races before—slapping his chest four years ago, putting a finger to his mouth to hush critics the other day—and focused on what he does better than anyone ever has. Sprinting. “Fans really enjoy a world record,” Bolt said later with a smile, “so I think they’ll forgive me for not posing.” Almost even with the last US runner when he got the baton, Bolt pulled away down the stretch and capped his perfect Olympics by leading Jamaica to the relay victory in a world-record 36.84 seconds. “A wonderful end to a wonderful week,” Bolt said. “What else do I need to do to prove myself as a legend?” After the win, he held up three fingers, one for each of his golds. He is now 6 for 6 in Olympic finals over his career—breaking four world records in the process, including three in Beijing in 2008. Bolt also heads home with an extra souvenir.

After winning Saturday, he pleaded with an official to let him keep the yellow baton he was clutching. Told he’d be disqualified if he didn’t hand it over, Bolt complied, and some nearby spectators booed. About 40 minutes later, that same official approached Bolt and returned the stick. Bolt responded with a  bow of thanks and a chuckle, kissed the baton—and then asked his teammates to autograph it.  One more possession to help him remember his performances at the 80,000-seat Olympic Stadium, where any mention of Bolt’s name drew raucous cheers, countless camera flashes and chants of “Usain!” or “We want Bolt!” He reiterated that this could be it for him on track and field’s biggest stage. Bolt turns 26 on August 21, and refuses to commit to showing up at the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro. “It’s going to be hard to really do that. I’ve done all I want to do,” said Bolt, noting that he planned to go out on the town Saturday night. “I’ve got no more goals.” Bolt also earned medals in the 100 in 9.63 seconds—the second-fastest time in history—and the 200 in 19.32 on Thursday. The runner-up in both individual sprints, Bolt’s pal and training partner Yohan Blake, ran the third leg of the relay, following Nesta Carter and Michael Frater. The US quartet of Trell Kimmons, 100 bronze medalist Justin Gatlin, Tyson Gay and Ryan Bailey got the silver in 37.04, equaling the old record that Bolt helped set at last year’s world championships. Trinidad & Tobago took the bronze in 38.12. Canada, which was third across the line, was disqualified for running outside its lane, and its appeal was rejected.

As Blake and Gay rounded the race’s final curve, they were pretty much in sync, stride for stride. When that duo was done, the relay came down to Bolt vs Bailey, who was fifth in the 100 metres in 9.88. Not exactly a fair matchup. “It was over from there,” Blake said. After transferring the baton from his left hand to his right, Bolt churned up the track. Bailey had no chance. “Wow,” Bailey said. “He’s a monster.” Bolt kept increasing his advantage and actually spared his now-customary showboating at the finish, instead driving through the line on a windy, chilly night. “When he got the stick,” said Gay, who got his first Olympic medal, “there was nothing we could do about it.” Only after seeing the record time did Bolt start to celebrate. He mugged for the cameras with Blake, each doing a signature pose. Bolt did his “To the World” move, where he leans back and points to the sky. Blake curled his hands as if they were claws while making a scary face to match the nickname Bolt gave him, “The Beast.” “We are not human...We drop from space,” joked Blake, who said a woman ran up and kissed him on the cheek after the race. Bolt yanked off his white spikes and danced barefoot to the Eurythmics’ “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)” as it played on the arena’s loudspeakers. Later, wearing his latest gold medal, Bolt waved his fingers toward the stands, trying to get fans to do the wave. They did, of course.

He arrived at these Olympics with the stated intention of becoming a “living legend,” something he considered a done deal after his victory in the 200. Before Saturday’s race, the head of track and field’s governing body, Lamine Diack, agreed, saying the sprinter had “entered the legendary.” In more than a century of modern Olympics, no man had set world records while winning the 100, 200 and 4x100 relay—until Bolt did it in Beijing. None had won the 200 metres twice, let alone completed a 100-200 double twice—until Bolt did so in 2008 and 2012. Now he’s added a second consecutive sprint relay title, too, for a Double Triple. Jamaica won Saturday without Asafa Powell, who held the 100 world record from 2005 until Bolt claimed it in 2008, and was the anchor on the Jamaican team that won the 4x100 four years ago. Powell injured his groin and pulled up during the 100 in London. No matter. The team drafted a pretty decent guy to take his place on the final leg. Don’t forget, a chorus of questions greeted Bolt at these Olympics. Was he completely healthy? Was he still as fast as the guy who set the world records of 9.58 for the 100, and 19.19 for the 200, at the world championships three years ago? And, most of all, having lost twice to Blake at the Jamaican Olympic trials, could Bolt still claim to be the best in the world if he wasn’t even the best in his own country? International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge thinks any judgment of Bolt’s place in history needs to be withheld until his career is over. Rogge said it would take more than two superb Summer Games to cement Bolt’s status. Bolt was asked about Rogge’s comments. “Next time you see him, I think you need to ask him what Usain needs to do that no human man has ever done, because I’ve done it already,” Bolt said. “I don’t know what else to do, really.”

Socapro:
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/sports/Warne_wants_Bolt_for_Big_Bash-166066896.html

Warne wants Bolt for Big Bash
Story Created: Aug 13, 2012 at 10:59 PM ECT

Usain Bolt could repackage himself as a big-hitting cricketer in Australia's Big Bash League after defending his sprint double at the London Olympics, local media reported yesterday.
 
The Jamaican told Channel Nine he had been contacted by Shane Warne about joining the spin great at the Melbourne Stars club in the Twenty20 league, which begins in December.
 
"He contacted me and asked me about if I am serious and if I really want to do it then he can put in a few words that should get it done," Bolt told Channel Nine.
 
"We will see if I get the time off. I will try. Twenty20, I love it. Just the fact that it is so exciting, it's about going hard the whole time, not just about playing shots.
 
"It's about being aggressive and I like that style of batsman," added Bolt, who retained 100 and 200 metres titles and helped break the 4x100m world record in London.
 
The 25-year-old, who said he wanted a trial at English soccer giants Manchester United at the Games, first indicated his interest in the Big Bash League earlier this year.
 
Melbourne's chief executive Clint Cooper said Bolt, who grew up playing street cricket and soccer in Jamaica, could fill one of the few remaining slots in the squad.
 
"We're going to...re-engage with him and his management company," Cooper was quoted as saying by Sydney Morning Herald newspaper. "We've got a couple of spots left on our list."

D.H.W:

Socapro:
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/sports/Bolt_considers_options_for_Rio-167137515.html

Bolt considers options for Rio
Story Created: Aug 23, 2012 at 12:01 AM ECT

Usain Bolt is a definite starter for another Olympic Games in four years' time, opening up the possibility of more sprint records or an attempt at other events, the six-time gold medallist said yesterday.
 
Speculation has been rife since the London Games that the Olympic 100 and 200 metres champion could quit athletics and not compete at Rio de Janeiro in 2016. His hunger for success, however, appears to be showing no signs of abating.
 
"Yes definitely I will be there (in Rio), as long as I'm fit and I'm ready," Bolt said at a promotional event in Lausanne yesterday.
 
"It'll be a little bit harder but I'm looking forward to it."

The possibility of Bolt, also a member of Jamaica's world record-breaking 4x100 relay team in London, switching from the sprints to the 400 or long jump has long been debated.
 
American Carl Lewis —who like Bolt claimed back-to-back Olympic 100 titles—was also a four-time men's long jump gold medallist, dominating the event from 1984 in Los Angeles to Atlanta in 1996. "It's just about making different goals, there's a lot of things I can do in the sport," Bolt said.
 
"My coach wants me to do 400 metres, I want to try long jump.

"I could always try to aim for the records again, so there's different things but after the season we'll decide what we want to do and work on that next season."The newly-turned 26-year-old also told the Hublot watch event that his dream of one day becoming a footballer still burned bright.

Socapro:
Usain Bolt targets 19-second barrier in 200m
29 August 2012 Last updated at 17:47

Sprint legend Usain Bolt says he wants to break the 19-second barrier in the 200m, which he insists is his "favourite event", next season.

Bolt, who holds the world record of 19.19 seconds and is a two-time Olympic champion at the distance, says his only aim at London 2012 was to "defend his titles" and not to break his own records, although the Jamaican adds he could "definitely" have broken the 200m mark.

Bolt also jokes about asking Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson for a trial.

Click link to view interview on BBC website:  http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/athletics/19414271

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