Showmanship
08/17/2008 11:03 a.m. | Sports
If there is a single thing that Usain Bolt knows better than running really fast it is showmanship. If you missed his gold medal run in the 100m, it was something for the ages. He skidded at the start, he was a showboat in a fashion that is only replicated by Neon Deion, and he won it all in a big way. 2nd - 6th were decided by .08 seconds. 9.89 to 9.97. The photo of this looks like a very close race. Bolt's time was 9.69 seconds. He won by a full .2 seconds. In 100m terms, that is huge. Just see the picture for yourself. I haven't actually looked in the record books but this has to be one of the biggest margins ever. But I won't remember the WR time or really anything aside from his showboating.
What truly amazes me is what this guy did with his opportunity. He gets one chance to run in a gold medal race. He has to work and train to get there, run in several races before the big day. And when he runs it, he has to do it perfectly. But instead of caring about the WR or going down as the fastest man alive, Usain Bolt will go down as something far greater. He will go down at the guy who slowed up, looked around, and still kicked everyone's ass. I believe that is something that will never be topped. No other racer in my lifetime will showboat his way to victory in the 100m. So while it was great to see a good race and a champion, it was so much greater to see a guy who really knows he is the fastest man alive, and has the confidence to run slower at the end and still win.
Great race Mr. Bolt. I hope someday to be so good at something that I can look and see how far everyone else is behind me.