posted Dec 21, 2008

thorofthesir...

Have to agree with you about Powell needing to run a few more 200m races ( something I had posted about sometime earlier ); he runs very few at the moment...his PB over the 200m is 19.90!!! That exclamation mark at the end is in recognition of the fact that 19.90, although sub20, is, I believe, 'slow' when you consider what he can do over the 100m ( indeed, there are many other 200m runners who have run faster over the course 2008 )...and while he may not be quite the equivalent of Bolt ( at least it seems so at the moment ), the fact that Bolt can run 19.30 ( and potentially faster in the future ),indicates that if Powell were to work harder at the 200m he could make some ground over the 100m too...

Looking at the times;

Bolt's 100m - 9.69s ( while slowing with at least 15 metres still to go! )
Bolt's 200m - 19.30s

Powells 100m - 9.72
Powells 200m - 19.90

Of course, there is no guarantee that working harder over the 200m i.e. running more [serious] races ( coupled with the appropriate training ), would see an improvement over the 100m, but normal logic would suggest that it should help...

Also - let's not forget Tyson Gay - he'll be back with something to prove ( and defending his world titles in 2009 )...

We'll get to see what all of them have in their tanks come 2009...exciting times ahead!!!

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posted Dec 21, 2008

As great a competitor as Tyson is, I can't see him threatening the Jamaicans(especially Bolt). In any other era he would have been wiping the floor with the opposition but at their peaks Gay is undoubtebtly the slowest of the 3 fastest men in history.

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posted Dec 21, 2008

Bolt will never get 5 golds just because even if he does get the 400m WR (which I hope he does) he will never have a strong enough 4x400m relay squad to challenge the Americans. He will also probably never get the long jump or triple jump WR becuase he is too big and heavy and would be weighed down by that muscle and not get far or high enough. He probably also doesnt have enough natural spring to compete in either.

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posted Dec 22, 2008

some really good posts here by the way. on the subject of improvement for bolt gay and powell. although i think all will the mere fact gay and powell are much closer to their physical peak in terms of age and experience can only spell utter domination and amazing times from Bolt when he hits their age at the next olympics!

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posted Dec 22, 2008

I think it's a little early to write either off. We've been spoilt recently with amazing times from younger athletes but historically 26 is by no means over the hill - Mo still had room for improvement at that point, Donovan Bailley, Carl Lewis, Linford etc. If you look at MJ his WRs didn't come until he was a month shy of 29 and 32.

Add to that the fact that Tyson was slower than our very own Simeon Williamson and didn't crack 10s until he was 24 you can hardly call him an "early bloomer".

With regards to Powell, I think the 4x100 showed that there is a lot more in him than we have seen so far. If he were to leave 100% on the track without tensing up or whatever it is that happens to him, a race with Bolt would be very interesting and I'm not sure on whom I would put my money.

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posted Dec 22, 2008

"He will also probably never get the long jump or triple jump WR becuase he is too big and heavy and would be weighed down by that muscle and not get far or high enough"

I don't think he is all that heavy. He is not a powerhouse sprinter with muscles appearing all over the place. I reckon he has a similar build to Bob Beamon and is tall and rangy. His spring maybe a problem but we do not know that he does not possess a decent jump so I'm not counting him out to trouble the 9 metre mark in a few years time.

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posted Dec 26, 2008

I certainly dont have a problem with Usain and coach Mills trying to target Michael Johnson's 400M world record.

In fact, i've always thought Bolt wud've been an ideal sprinter for the 400m, although the 200M is his pet event.

The point i'm making is that Bolt having clearly dominated, shattered and established all kinds of new records in both the 100M & 200M events wherever he goes, i jus think he has to challenge himself in another event.

The 100M is a very clear example of the supreme talent and class of this guy. Bolt ran his first 100M jus a little over a year ago just for preparation towards his 200M pet event. At that time he ran 10.03secs having had no history or full training towards this event. Today, the rest is history as the world watched in absolute awe as this 6ft 5" super athlete ran as if he were a racing car that switched into over-drive while dismissing every and any challenge his poor openents had.

As a result of his mind boggling feat, this confident (not-arrogant)track star has earned himself historic, numerous, and unprecedented awards and accolates from all over the world...something that he richly deserve for his hard work coupled with his God given talent!

As a Jamaican i'm extremely proud of his breathtaking achievements. I'm sure Jamaicans at home and throughout the diaspora will continue to shower him with their love and support throughout good or bad times!

Additionally, he has now become a global figure and as a result millions of fans all over the world has been inspired tremendously by his achievements.

In concluding, i just wanna thank BBC in a special way for allowing sports loving fans an opportunity to express themselves and voice their honest opinion openly.

Kindest regards,

Cardo-JA...

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posted Jan 5, 2009

bolt is so fast i think he can beat is own 100m 200m for the 4oo he will have 2 spacehimself i hope he try it out in small event first
brooks12

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posted Jan 6, 2009

To be quite honest, I think he needs the 400m challenge. I'd like to see him try a few 400s this year and he could certainly do them in training (if he doesn't already) to prepare for the 200 in the worlds...

Can't see why he couldn't be a long-jumper, given the right technical coaching. His height is an advantage here for sure.

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posted Jan 6, 2009

As for whether he'd get the world record - I'm thinking he wouldn't, but sub-44 would certainly be on the cards and that'd make him a medal contender at the major championships.

Long jump would be a complete leap into the unknown, possibly literally!

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