DAEGU – In one whirlwind week, Usain Bolt turned the biggest disappointment of his career into another golden show capped with a world record even he didn’t think was within him.
After opening with a false start in 100 final last Sunday, Usain Bolt again produced the amazing in his closing race of the World Championships – anchoring Jamaica to a world record in the 4×100-metre relay.
Fittingly, Jamaica’s yellow-green-and-black flag was the last one rising into the night over Daegu Stadium, and Bolt spread his giant arms wide to soak in the moment.
“For me, it was just to go out there fast,” Bolt said. “We did just that.”
One day after winning gold in the 200, Bolt was devastating down the home stretch of the relay and threw his yellow-clad chest across the line for a time of 37.04 seconds – the only World record in nine days of competition.
There was no more of the performance anxiety that pushed him into a false start in the 100, only a sheer release of power as he coasted down the stretch for an overwhelming win over France and St Kitts and Nevis.
The United States was out of it by the last changeover, but no one could have gotten close to a Jamaican team anchored by Bolt.
Ahead of the race, Bolt was already slapping the “JAM” on his bib in pride, and in a season where he was far from his best, he came through with a World record.
He got all the help he needed from his three teammates – a lightning start from Nesta Carter and a good handover to Michael Frater before Jamaica’s golden duo was up. Yohan Blake, the 100 champion in Bolt’s absence, powered through the final bend, with Bolt already getting his giant stride going before he took the baton.
Without the injured Asafa Powell, Bolt anchored the team for the first time in a major competition since he took the world by storm at the Beijing Olympics three years ago.
Running with the determination of a record beater, he gritted his teeth over the final metres, crossed the line and threw the glittering purple baton high in the air once he realized the team’s three-year-old record of 37.10 was gone.
All through the year, Bolt had said that times were not his priority and he never came close to his record best – until yesterday.
Seconds later, the showman took over again. He started dancing to the delight of the 45 000 crowd at Daegu Stadium, which had the last second to finally see a World record.
On a final day of seven finals, one silver medal also stood out.
Caster Semenya failed to defend her 800 title, faltering late down the finishing straight to allow Mariya Savinova of Russia to get the gold.
Silver, however, was better than many expected as the South African showed glimpses of her powerful running that made her the dominating athlete over the distance two years ago, before a gender controversy sidelined her for a year. (AP)
