Usain Bolt

[FCS_pwns_FBS]

This guy is unbelieveable He's 6'5" and he now holds the world record for the 100 m dash. I want my falcons to sign him as a wide receiver. I wonder if he could catch a football?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHMRuOXdN6I

[Grizaholic17]

This guy is unbelieveable He's 6'5" and he now holds the world record for the 100 m dash. I want my falcons to sign him as a wide receiver. I wonder if he could catch a football?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHMRuOXdN6I

AGREED! saw the race. I was disappointed with his extra celebrating afterwards, but he's so good that he might have deserved a little of it.

[Dane96]

So funny. My roomie, who played FB at UMASS, and I were JUST talking about that. Guy is 6'5 and 195. Get 10-15 on the guy work with him for three years...and he could be the anti-Johnny Lam Jones. He is only 21.

They calculated his 40 time at 3.45 seconds. His high would have been 4.36...low at 2.98 in full-stride. He reached 28 miles an hour. That...is insane.

[McNeese75]

Great run, pretty full of himself, I bet he can't catch a cold much less a football xlolx

[Thundering_Herd]

What a cocky a**hole! He's worse than I am on the AGS Smack board! One question I have is: where does Jamaica get all these fast *****ers, both guys and gals? We have a lot more people to chose from and they're always competitive with us...

[Dane96]

Well...its all that running from the cops when they bring weed into Miami from Jamaica 'mon.

;)

[Thundering_Herd]

...Or running from the witch doctor who's trying to shrink their head. Maybe they have a voodoo doll with a 'turbo button'.

[ngineer]

I can't remember such a dominating performance in such a short race. If they can teach him to catch..wow..That's how "Bullet" Bob Hayes got to the Cowboys.

[Dane96]

He would wreck corners. Basically, you are talking about a guy who is Ed McCaffery's size...and slightly (if he tosses 10-15 lbs on) lighter than T.O.

His size would make it difficult to jam him...and if they give him a cushion...forget it.

[Poly Pigskin]

You know what I hate about great accomplishments in this era? You can't just take them for what they are anymore; my first thought was "he's on the juice" and the more I think about it, the more I think he has to be. I mean, the 100m record is not broken that often, and when it is, it's very incremental. Maurice Jones ran 9.79 in 1999, and it took 8 years for it to be lowered by 0.05 sec. Then along comes this Usain fellow and runs a 9.72 when his training hasn't peaked, and then throws down 9.69 when he's not even trying. That's 0.05 sec in a few months, and it easily could have been 0.10 sec or maybe more.

I really hope I'm just being cynical...but wow, that's gotta raise some questions, doesn't it?

[th0m]

Would you raise the same questions if a similar performance would be ran by an American athlete?

[Peems]

Would you raise the same questions if a similar performance would be ran by an American athlete?

Yes. In this day and age you can never be sure, hell it was the first time all three medal winners finished under ten seconds. I believe all were clean, but questions are going to be raised for a long time in professional sports.

[Poly Pigskin]

Would you raise the same questions if a similar performance would be ran by an American athlete?

Absolutely, we have much more history with doping than the Jamaicans (Tim Montgomery's and Justin Gatlin's records have been tossed out in the last decade, I can't think of any Jamaican runners that have been caught). I really want to believe it was legitimate, but this isn't swimming we're talking about; sprinting records just don't get shattered like that.

[th0m]

Well I agree on the threshold and the way he broke the record, but I guess I somewhat believe in an inkling of intelligence in most of the Olympics athletes (and especially in these high-profile events such as the 100m) meaning if they used something illegal it will definitely be caught and I'm sure record-breakers will be scrutinized as much as was Phelps for each of his 8 medals and WR's. Does anyone know if these tests take a long time for results come forward or would we have known that by now?

[danefan]

OK, here's the deal. Its a pretty solid fact that this track is the fastest ever built in the world. The track can make a huge difference in the sprints because the spring back effectively allows the runner to get his feet up and down at a faster rate of speed with greater propulsion.

I've seen this guy run in person and he's a specimen. But I will tell you this - these guys could NOT convert to playing football. There bodies are built to one thing-go straight and fast. They have little muscle development designed for lateral movements. That is part of the reason why they can run as fast as they can. Nothing "in the way" to slow them down.

Now, with that being said, with the proper muscle training they could become great all-around athletes. But inevitably even Bolt (the fastest human ever) will slow down considerably if he trained for football-like activities.

[danefan]

OK, here's the deal. Its a pretty solid fact that this track is the fastest ever built in the world. The track can make a huge difference in the sprints because the spring back effectively allows the runner to get his feet up and down at a faster rate of speed with greater propulsion.

I've seen this guy run in person and he's a specimen. But I will tell you this - these guys could NOT convert to playing football. There bodies are built to one thing-go straight and fast. They have little muscle development designed for lateral movements. That is part of the reason why they can run as fast as they can. Nothing "in the way" to slow them down.

Now, with that being said, with the proper muscle training they could become great all-around athletes. But inevitably even Bolt (the fastest human ever) will slow down considerably if he trained for football-like activities.

[McNeese75]

The track has a lot to do with these times but the athletes are definitly good ones.

[mebisonII]

What a cocky a**hole! He's worse than I am on the AGS Smack board! One question I have is: where does Jamaica get all these fast *****ers, both guys and gals? We have a lot more people to chose from and they're always competitive with us...

Actually, there was an article about that the other day that talked about some of the research on that, and how people with West African genes (including Jamaicans) are predisposed to sprinting. Part of it had to do with the percentage of fast-twitch vs. slow-twitch muscle fibers. Apparently you can train fast-twitch fibers to act as slow-twitch, but not vice versa. Folks with South African genes (including Kenyans) are predisposed to distance running.

Also, factor in national pride for Jamaica. They apparently take T&F very seriously, and their national T&F competitions, right down to the elementary level, are on a level comparable to our Super Bowl.

This is all from my reading of one article, so adjust your salt dosage accordingly xthumbsupx

[Dane96]

Bison-- that was almost Jimmy the Greek like.

I jest...I jest.

[89Hen]

What a cocky a**hole! He's worse than I am on the AGS Smack board! One question I have is: where does Jamaica get all these fast *****ers, both guys and gals? We have a lot more people to chose from and they're always competitive with us...
I would normally agree, but when you can run a 9.69 coasting home you can act however you want in my book. xpeacex

[89Hen]

I've seen this guy run in person and he's a specimen. But I will tell you this - these guys could NOT convert to playing football. There bodies are built to one thing-go straight and fast. They have little muscle development designed for lateral movements. That is part of the reason why they can run as fast as they can. Nothing "in the way" to slow them down.

Now, with that being said, with the proper muscle training they could become great all-around athletes. But inevitably even Bolt (the fastest human ever) will slow down considerably if he trained for football-like activities.
Dunno.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/telegraph/multimedia/archive/00792/bolt_chambers_792133a.jpg

[danefan]

Dunno.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/telegraph/multimedia/archive/00792/bolt_chambers_792133a.jpg

Muscles aren't muscles aren't muscles. At that level of fitness they are trained to do specific things. DB's - trained to change direction very quickly (lateral movements). World class sprinters - trained to go straight and lean into left turns only.

[89Hen]

Muscles aren't muscles aren't muscles.
I don't have any anyway so what do I know. :p

[biggie]

If anyone hasn't noticed the 200m results, he's good.

And we are still sucking in T&F.

[appfan2008]

do you think he will set a world record in the 200 final?

or will michael johnson stand for another day?

[biggie]

do you think he will set a world record in the 200 final?

or will michael johnson stand for another day?
Its already over. So I would bet on YES.

[danefan]

Its already over. So I would bet on YES.

Spoiler.xnonono2x


Anyway. The US is not sucking in T&F. Some let downs, yes. But then some US pickups that weren't expected as well, e.g., W 100 meter hurdles, silver in W discuss, etc...


I can't wait to see the results for the Dec. NBC won't put too much on, beacuse people don't like it. I don't understand how its not the major draw. It is the true test of a T&F athlete. 10 events, 2 days. Sprints, hurdles, jumps, throws, distance......guts, glory, heartbreak. The best event in the Olympics (IMO). xnodx xnodx xnodx xnodx xthumbsupx And the US should be in the hunt for two medals and a good possiblity at Gold with Brian Clay.

[appfan2008]

Yeah my bad I just read the article on SI.com he finished with world record times in both events... first man to ever win both with world record times in the olympics... jesse owens and carl lewis never even did that

[biggie]

Spoiler.xnonono2x


Anyway. The US is not sucking in T&F. Some let downs, yes. But then some US pickups that weren't expected as well, e.g., W 100 meter hurdles, silver in W discuss, etc...

No one should read the thread after the race is over if they don't want to know the outcome.

And the W 100m H, we were expected to win (Jones), though she hit the hurdle and finished 7th. The surprise would have been if she continued and we would have finished 1-2. And it was Gold in W discus, that was a surprise by a person that barely made the team I believe.

[TwinTownBisonFan]

I will say this... i was impressed with his performance... but i was furious with his cocking off.

if an American athlete had done that it would have been an international incident. there's a double standard there...

that said... when he finished his race i was left wondering "what's he on?" it wasn't that he won... it was by how much, and with how little training. The big difference between his performance and Phelps is that MP was training for those races for almost 8 years... Bolt just took up the 100 after being a 200 guy...

[Franks Tanks]

What an incredible performance and IMO a much more significant one then Phelps's gold metals. Track is more popular and important then swimming and Bolt shattered world records in perhaps the two most important track events on the biggest stage. Just awesome- he deserves to Hot Dog it a bit

[McNeese75]

What an incredible performance and IMO a much more significant one then Phelps's gold metals. Track is more popular and important then swimming and Bolt shattered world records in perhaps the two most important track events on the biggest stage. Just awesome- he deserves to Hot Dog it a bit

xrolleyesx

Ok, lets see Bolt set records in the both hurdle events and say the 400m all in one meet and then maybe they will be comparable.

[Franks Tanks]

xrolleyesx

Ok, lets see Bolt set records in the both hurdle events and say the 400m all in one meet and then maybe they will be comparable.


Oh please. And how many of Phelps' medals were in relays? The title of fastest man on earth ever is much more impressive than the best swimmer ever.... Running is the most primal and basic of all contests for humans to compete in and this has done it faster then anyone else, and I suspect he is just getting started.

[appfan2008]

uh bolt?

he's fast...

[Franks Tanks]

http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/beijing/track_field/news?slug=ap-ath-mens200&prov=ap&type=lgns

"Usain Bolt of Jamaica broke the world record by winning the 200 meters in 19.30 seconds Wednesday night, becoming the first man since Carl Lewis in 1984 to sweep the 100 and 200 gold medals at an Olympics.

Bolt is the first man ever to break the world marks in both sprints at an Olympics. Not even Lewis or Jesse Owens managed that.

Showing what he can do when he runs at full speed all the way through the finish—something he hadn’t done yet in the Beijing Games—Bolt eclipsed the old record of 19.32 seconds set by Michael Johnson in Atlanta in 1996."

Also the dude broke the 100 world record and didnt even run full speed the entire time. He was absolutely toying with his competition. I understand Phelps broke records as well, but Bolt is more superior to his competition then Phelps is to his. This is also taking place in a sport much more popular and with more potential participants.

[Lionsrking]

http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/beijing/track_field/news?slug=ap-ath-mens200&prov=ap&type=lgns

"Usain Bolt of Jamaica broke the world record by winning the 200 meters in 19.30 seconds Wednesday night, becoming the first man since Carl Lewis in 1984 to sweep the 100 and 200 gold medals at an Olympics.

Bolt is the first man ever to break the world marks in both sprints at an Olympics. Not even Lewis or Jesse Owens managed that.

Showing what he can do when he runs at full speed all the way through the finish—something he hadn’t done yet in the Beijing Games—Bolt eclipsed the old record of 19.32 seconds set by Michael Johnson in Atlanta in 1996."

Also the dude broke the 100 world record and didnt even run full speed the entire time. He was absolutely toying with his competition. I understand Phelps broke records as well, but Bolt is more superior to his competition then Phelps is to his. This is also taking place in a sport much more popular and with more potential participants.

I really don't think it should come down to a "choice" between these two great performers, but what Bolt accomplished has impressed me more on a personal level. But I can also see why others would be more impressed with Phelps.

[89Hen]

xrolleyesx

Ok, lets see Bolt set records in the both hurdle events and say the 400m all in one meet and then maybe they will be comparable.

Oh please. And how many of Phelps' medals were in relays? The title of fastest man on earth ever is much more impressive than the best swimmer ever.... Running is the most primal and basic of all contests for humans to compete in and this has done it faster then anyone else, and I suspect he is just getting started.
Three were in relays. 75 has it correct. When you can beat the world's best swimmers in different strokes it would be like Bolt being able to win at hurdles or speedwalking (do they still have that?) The 100 and 200 aren't that different, it would be like the 100 and 200 butterfly (Phelps won both).

What does "primal" have to do with it. Should we give medals for best grunter? Swimming is as basic as running and since sprinters wear shoes, I'd say swimming in more "primal".

[Lionsrking]

Three were in relays. 75 has it correct. When you can beat the world's best swimmers in different strokes it would be like Bolt being able to win at hurdles or speedwalking (do they still have that?) The 100 and 200 aren't that different, it would be like the 100 and 200 butterfly (Phelps won both).

What does "primal" have to do with it. Should we give medals for best grunter? Swimming is as basic as running and since sprinters wear shoes, I'd say swimming in more "primal".

Would you bet against Bolt in hurdles, assuming he trained and competed in them??? HMMM???

[89Hen]

Would you bet against Bolt in hurdles, assuming he trained and competed in them??? HMMM???
Don't know. He hasn't trained for them and AFAIK, never done them.

[appfan2008]

They do have speed walking (IDK WHY) and Phelps's accomplishments are much more amazing in my opinion... the different distance between sprints and endurance races and the different strokes... meanwhile bolt just sprints

[danefan]

Would you bet against Bolt in hurdles, assuming he trained and competed in them??? HMMM???

I wouldn't bet against Bolt in the hurdles, 400, 400 hurdles, long jump, or triple jump, all events where speed and explosiveness are essential.

He's so tall. he has a prototypical hurdler body.

[mcveyrl]

What does "primal" have to do with it. Should we give medals for best grunter? Swimming is as basic as running and since sprinters wear shoes, I'd say swimming in more "primal".

I can take a mean dump. Count me in for the primal olympics.

[89Hen]

I wouldn't bet against Bolt in the hurdles, 400, 400 hurdles, long jump, or triple jump, all events where speed and explosiveness are essential.

He's so tall. he has a prototypical hurdler body.
Do you think he'll attempt those events?

[danefan]

Do you think he'll attempt those events?

No. The schedules are not conducive to doing it.
Guys generally don't even run the 400 and 400 hurdles at the same meet because of the grueling prelims, semis and finals required for both.

The long jump could be done, but there is high risk of injury, same with triple jump.

[Franks Tanks]

Three were in relays. 75 has it correct. When you can beat the world's best swimmers in different strokes it would be like Bolt being able to win at hurdles or speedwalking (do they still have that?) The 100 and 200 aren't that different, it would be like the 100 and 200 butterfly (Phelps won both).

What does "primal" have to do with it. Should we give medals for best grunter? Swimming is as basic as running and since sprinters wear shoes, I'd say swimming in more "primal".

Yes with those $600 speedo suits designed by NASA. I am in no way diminishing what Phelps has accomplised, but Bolt just flat out impressed me more. How many counties/kids are involved in swimming vs. Track? Track is much more a marquee sport and the 100 is the biggest event in track. Also if Bolt was from the US and Phelps from France or something the tables would be turned.

[CrazyCat]

There is only one way to settle this debate. Bring back the superstars competition. :)

http://www.geocities.com/Colosseum/Dugout/8973/comp/01finalbarberoc.jpeg

[Franks Tanks]

I can take a mean dump. Count me in for the primal olympics.

Way to not understand the point. Some events are just basic to all humanity and dont require any special equipment to compete in. Wrestling and Track are two such events that come to mind immediately.

[mcveyrl]

Way to not understand the point. Some events are just basic to all humanity and dont require any special equipment to compete in. Wrestling and Track are two such events that come to mind immediately.

I understood what you were saying, just playing off 89Hen's interpretation.xpeacex

Swimming also comes to mind for me in this category.

[Franks Tanks]

I understood what you were saying, just playing off 89Hen's interpretation.xpeacex

Swimming also comes to mind for me in this category.

I agree swimming does, but not as much so as track IMO. Every human on the earth (barring those who are disabled) have tried to run fast at least at some point. He is faster then the other 6 billion of us

[89Hen]

Yes with those $600 speedo suits designed by NASA. I am in no way diminishing what Phelps has accomplised, but Bolt just flat out impressed me more. How many counties/kids are involved in swimming vs. Track? Track is much more a marquee sport and the 100 is the biggest event in track. Also if Bolt was from the US and Phelps from France or something the tables would be turned.
I understand what you're saying about everyone can do it, but to call it more siginificant is folly IMO. Bolt is the first to break both records in one games, but he's the ninth person to win the 100 and 200. Prior to Spitz in 1972, nobody had won more than 5 golds in a single games. Spitz's 7 was thought to be untouchable. xpeacex

[Dane96]

I will add, Spitz even admitted that research indicates the suits do not give a major edge to the current crop of swimmers. The amount of propulsion necessary to give the swimmers an edge with the suits is simply impossible for a human to replicate.

[Lionsrking]

I understand what you're saying about everyone can do it, but to call it more siginificant is folly IMO. Bolt is the first to break both records in one games, but he's the ninth person to win the 100 and 200. Prior to Spitz in 1972, nobody had won more than 5 golds in a single games. Spitz's 7 was thought to be untouchable. xpeacex

Comparing swimming to track and field is "apples and oranges," and as I said before, the accomplishments of both men were truly amazing in their own right. There's room for both to be recognized as great Olympians.

[biggie]

And the T&F shoes/suits/etc (crazy arm things now) are not cheap and definately not designed to slow them down.

[ngineer]

Another WR tonight in the 200m ....19.30! The guy is amazing. Also the second and third place finishers were disqualified for running out of their lanes on the turn. American lost the bronze, but another American replaced him with the disqualifications.

[Gil Dobie]

Another WR tonight in the 200m ....19.30! The guy is amazing. Also the second and third place finishers were disqualified for running out of their lanes on the turn. American lost the bronze, but another American replaced him with the disqualifications.

Silver and Bronze for the USA after the DQ's.

[appfan2008]

Silver and Bronze for the USA after the DQ's.

good... we need all the medals we can get to stay ahead of them chinese

[FormerPokeCenter]

As to the question of Bolt doping....who knows, but the margin by which he broke the world record really isn't of any moment.

He's 6'5" and very muscular, ergo he's got a very long stride pattern length AND - apparently - lots of fast twitch muscle fibers. There's only TWO ways to get faster, either increase your stride pattern length OR increase your turnover rate. With his build and strength from being a 200 meter guy, he's apparently doing both very, very well.

Carl Lewis is 6'2....give him an extra three inches, increasing his stride pattern length, and leave his turnover rate the same, and he gets faster, perhaps even as fast as Bolt.

Just because the record got shattered, it doesn't necessarily mean he's doping....

As to the question of whether or not he'd make a good hurdler, I'd vote against it.

Renaldo Nehemiah was 5'11 and was absolutely perfect over the hurdles, Greg Foster was 6'3" and had a hard time not "going long" on his stride pattern in between the hurdles. Taller guys have problems with maintaining the right stride pattern between the barriers. The Chinese guy is only 6'2" and often has problems getting jammed up when he strides too long.

At 6'5", Bolt would have to "chop his steps" in order to get the timing right. He'd be fast, yes, but he wouldn't be able to run at his optimal speed because of the timing involved in the hurdles....

However, if you extrapolated his time, based on the extra 20 meters and a reasonable amount of time to negotiate each hurdle (.18 seconds), you could project that if he were able to run at optimal speed, he'd run somewhere in the neighborhood of 12.44, assuming that he wouldn't be jammed as he approached the hurdles moving so fast......