Olympics: Usain Bolt
Usain Bolt Pictures
BEIJING - AUGUST 21: Usain Bolt of Jamaica receives the gold medal during the medal ceremony for the Men's 200m Final held at the National Stadium during Day 13 of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games on August 21, 2008 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Bongarts/Getty Images)
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BEIJING - AUGUST 21: Usain Bolt of Jamaica receives the gold medal during the medal ceremony for the Men's 200m Final held at the National Stadium during Day 13 of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games on August 21, 2008 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Bongarts/Getty Images)
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BEIJING - AUGUST 21: Usain Bolt of Jamaica receives the gold medal during the medal ceremony for the Men's 200m Final held at the National Stadium during Day 13 of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games on August 21, 2008 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Bongarts/Getty Images)
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BEIJING - AUGUST 21: Usain Bolt of Jamaica receives the gold medal during the medal ceremony for the Men's 200m Final held at the National Stadium during Day 13 of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games on August 21, 2008 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Bongarts/Getty Images)
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BEIJING - AUGUST 21: Usain Bolt of Jamaica receives the gold medal during the medal ceremony for the Men's 200m Final held at the National Stadium during Day 13 of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games on August 21, 2008 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Bongarts/Getty Images)
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BEIJING - AUGUST 21: (L-R) Silver medalist Shawn Crawford of the United States, gold medalist Usain Bolt of Jamaica and bronze medalist Walter Dix of the United States stand on the podium during the medal ceremony for the Men's 200m Final held at the National Stadium during Day 13 of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games on August 21, 2008 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Bongarts/Getty Images)
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Jamaica's Usain Bolt celebrates winning the men's 200m final at the "Bird's Nest" National Stadium during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games on August 20, 2008. Bolt became the first man in 24 years to claim the Olympic sprint double when he won the 200m in a new world record time of 19.30sec. The final podium was headlined by Bolt, with American duo Shawn Crawford and Walter Dix granted silver and bronze after finishing fourth and fifth in the initial shakedown. AFP PHOTO / VALERY HACHE (Photo credit should read VALERY HACHE/AFP/Getty Images)
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The Chief Executive Officer of Puma Jochen Zeitz poses next to a promotional poster of star sprinter Usain Bolt in Beijing on August 21, 2008. The German sportswear company Puma posted better than expected second-quarter results despite the euro's persistent strength against other major currencies. Puma, which is majority owned by the French group PPR, recorded an operating profit increase of 2.1 percent at 62.3 million euros (96.1 million USD), better than a forecast of 59 million by analysts polled by Dow Jones Newswires. AFP PHOTO/Mark RALSTON (Photo credit should read MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images)
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The Chief Executive Officer of Puma Jochen Zeitz poses next to a promotional poster of star sprinter Usain Bolt in Beijing on August 21, 2008. The German sportswear company Puma posted better than expected second-quarter results despite the euro's persistent strength against other major currencies. Puma, which is majority owned by the French group PPR, recorded an operating profit increase of 2.1 percent at 62.3 million euros (96.1 million USD), better than a forecast of 59 million by analysts polled by Dow Jones Newswires. AFP PHOTO/Mark RALSTON (Photo credit should read MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images)
AFP/Getty Images
The Chief Executive Officer of Puma Jochen Zeitz poses next to a promotional poster of star sprinter Usain Bolt in Beijing on August 21, 2008. The German sportswear company Puma posted better than expected second-quarter results despite the euro's persistent strength against other major currencies. Puma, which is majority owned by the French group PPR, recorded an operating profit increase of 2.1 percent at 62.3 million euros (96.1 million USD), better than a forecast of 59 million by analysts polled by Dow Jones Newswires. AFP PHOTO/Mark RALSTON (Photo credit should read MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images)
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Track's Hopes Ride on 'Lightning Bolt'
By SEAN JENSEN, AOL
BEIJING - BEIJING -- Usain Bolt didn't just win a second gold medal for Jamaica on Wednesday night. He didn't just clinch the first 100- and 200-meter double for the first time since 1984, and he didn't just pull off that remarkable feat with another world record time.
What Bolt asserted is that he is the future, the one who can most salvage or sink his drug-tainted sport.
"He's the greatest track and field athlete right now," former Olympic sprint champion Donovan Bailey said, "in a sport that needs that."
Bolt is a refreshing breeze to a sport clouded in controversy. Because of countless disgraces in his sport, Bolt will endure questions about doping. But, even in that climate, Bolt showed that there is an innate and unrivaled fascination with a man's speed.
By setting world records in both sprints -- something neither Carl Lewis did in 1984 nor Jesse Owens in 1936 -- Bolt declared himself the fast man ever.
That he did it each time fueled by chicken nuggets affirmed that he is an anomaly.
One who just turned 22.
"He's bad," silver medalist Shawn Crawford said. "He broke the 100-meter record, (and) the 200-meter record. I'm serious; he's bad. He's a bad mamma-jamma."
And Bolt doesn't dodge the attention. Informed that former 200-meter world record holder Michael Johnson referred to him as "Superman," Bolt excitedly said, "I'm Lightning Bolt! "I am not Flash Gordon or anybody. My name is Bolt -- Lightning Bolt."
Clearly he's got more personality than the other transcendent athlete of these Games, swimmer Michael Phelps, and Bolt's achievement could have a broader appeal.
We will never forget that Phelps won eight gold medals at this Olympics, to surpass Mark Spitz. But can you replay any of his races in your mind? On the other hand, will you soon forget Bolt easing up with seven paces to go in the 100 then looking right, twisting his body, spreading open his arms and grinning from ear to ear?
Or, in the 200, sprinting through the finish line, raising his arms, screaming in delight and then falling flat on his back, with his hands over his face in disbelief?
This much is apparent: if he can stay healthy, if he can avoid a drug scandal, Bolt can be even better.
He won both sprint races at the halfway point, winning Wednesday by the greatest margin ever, 0.66 seconds. It's obvious he is just toying with his opponents, which means he could be even scarier if he learns to eat right and he refines his technique.
"Did that look easy?" he said. "No, that wasn't easy! I felt like I was swimming, and I just kept telling myself, 'Don't die. Don't die.' "I left everything on that track."
And now track will put everything on him.
Olympics Past and Present in Photos
Olympics 2008: Stars To Watch
Allyson Felix - Track and Field
After wining a silver medal in the 200 meters at the 2004 Summer Olympics, sprinter Allyson Felix is looking for more in 2008. The five-foot-six, 125-pound sprinter is very strong for her size. Look for her to challenge in all of the sprinting events in Beijing. Felix is also a devout Christian and feels that her sprinting ability is a gift from the lord.
Demetrius Andrade - Boxing
The amateur welterweight boxer they call "Boo Boo" won the 2007 world championship. Andrade is a clear US medal favorite at 152-lbs. His coach, Robert "Herb" Martin, says, " (Andrade?)has a way of turning up the heat when he needs to. He can put pressure on you and get the win. Everything he throws is pretty much on-point. He's very sharp. He also has a good eye."
Candace Parker - Women's Basketball
Parker was just 10 years old when she watched watched Lisa Leslie win her first Olympic gold medal in Atlanta. Twelve years later, Parker got the chance to help her L.A. Sparks teammate
win an unprecedented fourth straight gold.
Freddy Adu - Soccer
Soccer-phenom Freddy Adu made history in 2004 by becoming the youngest American athlete in a century to sign a major league pro contract. In the same year, he became the youngest pro athlete to ever school a goal in MLS history. Adu was recently, named to the 18-man squad that will represent the United States in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. Look for him to be a leader and fan favorite.
James Blake - Tennis
Best known for his speed and powerful forehand, James Blake has been one of the more prominent American tennis players over the past five years. He is currently ranked 8th in the world. In 2007, Blake compiled another consistent season with two ATP titles in five finals. Look for Blake to play well in the 2008 Olympics.
Lisa Leslie - Women's Basketball
Lisa Leslie is one of the only players to have dunked in a WNBA game, and she is expected to dominate the games this summer. Leslie is looking to win an unprecedented fourth straight gold.
Jeremy Wariner - Track and Field
A quick fact, Jeremy Wariner is the first caucasian man to win Olympic gold at 400 m since Viktor Markin in 1980. He won two Olympic gold medals in the 2004 games and four World Championships medals. Wariner should be carrying home more hardware in the 2008 games.
Venus Williams - Tennis
Venus is one-half of the Olympic gold-medal winning Williams sisters from Compton, Calif., have dominated womens tennis for a decade and plan to win gold again in Beijing.
Tyson Gay - Track and Field
America's 100-meters world champion Tyson Gay had a nasty fall and hamstring injury in the Olympic trials that
some thought would kill his chances at competing. Gay's 100-meter performance in Indianapolis is the second-fastest ever time into a headwind, trailing 2000 Olympic gold medalist Maurice Greene. The Kentucky-native became only the second man in history to win titles in the 100-meters, 200-meters and the 4x100-meter relay.
Serena Williams - Tennis
As the other half of the world famous Williams sisters, Serena will play through a left knee injury in the weeks before the games despite advice from a doctor-and her father-that she rest before the Olympic games.
