The most anticipated event of any Olympic games lived up to expectations, but does this make Usain Bolt the greatest male sprinter of all time?
Winning his second 100m title in an Olympic record 9.63s, Bolt became only the second man to defend the 100m title after Carl Lewis (although Lewis was famously beaten on the track by the infamous Ben Johnson).
Lewis is widely recognised as the greatest athlete of all time, but I think Bolt has a strong claim on the title of greatest sprinter.
If Bolt can back up in the 200m – and if he’s in 9.63 shape you’d be brave to bet against him – he will be the only man to claim the 100m/200m double in two Olympics.
Bolt is now the world record holder in the 100 and 200 metres, a four-time Olympic gold medallist, and five-time world champion. His world records have carved tenths of a second off the previous marks, in a sport where shaving 0.01 used to require years.
He is the only man to have set world records in three track events at one Olympics (the 100m, 200m and 4x100m in Beijing).
I was privileged to be in the stadium in Berlin when Bolt ran 9.58s, and again a few days later when he ran 19.19 in the 200m. Against some of the fastest men in history, who have lifted their games to compete with him, his dominance was total.
He has dragged his rivals with him – this Olympic final was the first to feature seven athletes running under 10 seconds, and if the unfortunate Asafa Powell hadn’t pulled up injured it was almost certain that the whole field would have cracked the mark.
This was the strongest 100m final ever run, and Bolt destroyed it.
How does his record compare to Carl Lewis?
Lewis, widely considered to be the greatest Olympian of all time, won nine Olympic gold medals spread across four Olympics, including the 100m/200m/4x100m sprint triple in 1984, and the long jump gold.
In 1988 he won a retrospective gold in ‘that’ 100m, silver in the 200m, and gold in the long jump. His gold medals in 1992 were in the relay and the long jump, and in the long jump alone in 1996.
So Lewis has a handy lead on Bolt in total medals won, but four of those gold medals were in the long jump – this arguably makes him a better all-around athlete, but it doesn’t necessarily add to his claim as the best sprinter. That gives him a career total of five sprint gold medals, and one silver.
Bolt has now won four Olympic gold medals in the sprints, compared to Lewis’ five. A 200m victory would see him draw level, and a relay win would see him pass Lewis on gold medals won.
The injury to Asafa Powell will certainly not help Jamaica’s chances in the relay, but with the two fastest men in the world (Bolt and Blake) and probably Nesta Carter and Michael Frater to join them, it’s going to be a magnificent battle with the American squad, with the Jamaicans probably a slight favourite.
If that scenario plays out, Bolt will have six gold medals and all three sprint world records from two Olympics. At the age of 25, Bolt probably has another Olympics in him.
Ultimately though, comparing the best times of these two master sprinters, it’s difficult to argue that Lewis can compare.
Lewis’ best times were 9.86 and 19.75. Bolt’s are 9.58 and 19.19. The differences are stark.
Lenat
Guest
Who wants to hear about long jump we are talking about the greatest sprinter on earth right now. CL can't come close to the man the lightening Usain Bolt. Did CL ever break three world records at one game? Bolt did it twice. Bolt is the greatest.
Gerald Williams
Guest
Christie was tested positive for Nandrolone, the same as Merlene Ottey. Nandrolone is produced by the body and the older you get and is competitively active it will produce more Nandrolone to enhance your bady. That was the reason why both Christie and Ottey were cleared by the IOC.
Gerald Williams
Guest
How would you judge who is the fastest? What distance and time? Johnson decided to match Bailey in a 150M race and Bailey blew him to pieces. The 100M is the event that is used to judge the fastest man on the planet. If Johnson wanted to stake his claim to that title, he should have competed with Bailey over 100M instead of 150M. Bad decision bad choice. His ass was smoked and he claimed that he had a muscle problem. The same is true in Horse Racing, you cannot put a quarter horse and run one mile race to run over the quarter distance. That was Johnson and Bailey. That fast twitch muscles that they say sprinters have is what makes Bailey smoked Johnson.
Gerald Williams
Guest
Many people know of Usain Bolt since he broke the World Record in New Jersey and ran 1972. As a school boy Bolt ran 45.35 for 400M at the age of 16 to win the Boys and Girls Athletic Championship in 2003. Everyone thought he would go to emulate Michael Johnson. He won the World Junior in The Bahamas in 19.93 S at 17n years old in 2004. He had the best time in the world over 200M for 2004 and many Olympics athletes were leery of this lanky young man. He has a back disorder, scoliosis. This makes his left leg a half inch shorter than his right, thus he is prone to Hamstring problems. I cannot imagine what times he would have set and what he could have accomplished if he was truly wholesome. The thought is mind blowing. He does not take drugs, not even supplements, he will ride out a cold using Vitamin C and other yellow fruits. Bolt does not need drugs. He knows what his talents are and the burden he carries on his shoulder as an "Ambassador For the Island of Jamaica".
Gerald Williams
Guest
I believe what is confusing to many people are the terms. "Greatest Sprinter" and "Greatest Athlete". There is no doubt that Usain Bolt is the greatest sprinter thus far we have seen, and possible will see for a long time. Carl Lewis on the other hand competed in multiple disciplines. The Long Jump has place him in a different category than Bolt, thus it is safe to say that he is "The Greatest Athlete the world has seen". There is no comparison between Bolt and Lewis as sprinters. Its like comparing Apples and Mangoes. Unless Bolt can compete in another event, such as hurdles, and do just as well or better, then Carl Lewis will always be considered "The Greatest Athlete", the world had the opportunity to see compete. Bolt is Par Excellence as a sprinter. period.
Gerald Williams
Guest
The have the following questions and seeking your answers or opinions. 1.What makes an athlete the greatest at any sports he/she compete in? 2. How would you judge an athlete and the categorised him as "The Greatest?" 3. What does "Dr.The Honourable Usain St. Leo Bolt, O.J. C.D has to do for the world to recognised him as the greatest male sprinter ( at present). There is no doubt that Florence Griffiths is considered the greatest female sprinter, drug charges and all. Including winding both 100M and 200M with a over the limit tail wind. Yet, she is regarded as the best.
thabiso
Guest
Bolt is one of the greatest then followed by blake. The two to me are nothing because I know that I can run 100m in 8.6 second. See me next year in gauteng and in rio 2016
jameswm
Guest
Slightly different? Javelin and shot putt are slightly different? Every post on athletics proves your ignorance more fussball. You should quit while you're behind.
jameswm
Guest
Hackett, Perkins, Housman - we did well in the 1500 because we took it seriously and few others did. You made my point GCS - Hackett's phenomenal time would only do a top 5. And Perkins from Atlanta - his winning time would barely have made the final now.
Action Jackson
Guest
Don't forgot that Lewis would have probably won the 1992 Olympic 100m if he was not inflicted by food poisoning at the US selection trials. He ran the relay with a faster time than Linford Christie's relay time. Lewis was also selected in the same 4 LA Gold events for the Moscow Olympics, but the US boycotted. Who knows how he would have performed. Also, the tracks and shoes have improved over the last 20 years, although probably not by the full margin between Bolt and Lewis. All that said, Lewis's start was technically terrible, he performed no weight training, and his winning margins were minuscule compared to Bolt's. It's too early to make a judgement call on who is better, given that Bolt is only half way through his career, but if Bolt is injury-free in Rio, his third collection of Gold medals will make the decision for us.
Johnno
Guest
Jahangii Khans record is equal to MJ's you troll , stop trolling seriously who says Oi.
Seriously, Who says Oi?
Guest
Michael Jordan is far greater than any of the sportsmen that you've named. Jahangir Khan is easily 2nd greatest. He was so great at what he did. LOL
Beardan
Roar Guru
No doubt about Jahangir Khan's unbelievable record. Its simply incredible. However he is a step down from Jordan. Dont make me laugh with Shane Gould or Mick Doohan. Give Doohan an average bike and see how he'd go. The Heather McKay or Khan argument is a good one, however the Gould or Doohan one are like Australia's swimmers, very average.
Johnno
Guest
Beardan a silly awsner, your just falling for the marketing spin, micheal Jordan was the most marketed doesn't mean he was the greatest ever sportsman or woman, or statistically the greatest your just falling for the great dunks.. Try squash Heather Mckay or Jahangir Khant who had an unbeaten run which lasted for five years and 555 matches. You try go to your local tennis or squash club and win 555 matches straight let along at the pro level, which is the highest level. -Or aussy Mick Doohan winning 5 motor bike world titles straight, you go try winning 5 motor bike title straight, in such a dangerous sport, and win 5 straight over 5 years, with all the dangers and pressures involved to stay no 1 for 1 or 2 years but for 5 years to maintain that intensity amazing. -Or herb elliot, or Shane Gould, or mark spitz, or sergi bubka.
Beardan
Guest
To answer the question, of course he is the greatest sprinter of all time. No dramas about it. Michael Jordan is the best sportsman of all time and Michael Phelps is the greatest Olympian of all time. There is no doubt about any of this.
Cam Baker
Roar Rookie
You're welcome Tim. And you weren't even going to go to the track that day... Yes, for the rest of my life I will be able to say "I saw a man run 9.58 seconds for the 100m".
Cam Baker
Roar Rookie
It is not really Jessie Owens' fault that his achievements were confined to a single Olympics. There was this thing called World War 2 that got in the way and he was accused of running for money and so was banned from amateur competition.
Fussballs AFL tracking spreadsheet
Guest
More medals available in swimming? Pffft, how easy would it be for a decent track athlete to win multiple medals when there are four different medals available for slightly different types of throwing, another four for slight variations on jumping and then a whole bunch of them running, running with jumping etc. It appears that Bolt is simply not a sufficiently competent all round athlete to win outside a narrow niche.
Damien
Roar Guru
Just saw this clip on YouTube. Bolt on the last 10 metres : You're not gonna catch me. Not matter who you are...LOL The man has swagger : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1k50oBkXxQU
Tim Renowden
Expert
Haha oops! That'll teach me to write in a hurry. I actually don't think you can compare across sports - there are many more medals available in swimming or gymnastics, and the mark of greatness is set completely differently in every sport. I've avoided even comparing Bolt and Lewis to other track and field athletes like Oerter, Zatopek etc... too difficult. The comparison to Phelps is a meaningless one, imho. I should've tried harder to avoid throwing around titles like greatest Olympian. Carl is certainly one of the greatest though.