Did Anyone See That?

Boss Man · Post by **Boss Man** » Sun Aug 16, 2009 5:06 pm

How does Usain Bolt do it?

Tyson Gay runs a new national record of 9.71, but ends up about 2 metres behind Bolt, who wins with 9.58!!!! That's 0.11 seconds quicker than in Beijing, and Bolt claims he can run a 9.40, but reckons that's his limit.

Maybe he should change his name to Insane Bolt

.

swanso5 · Post by **swanso5** » Sun Aug 16, 2009 6:47 pm

greatest athlete this century

Boss Man · Post by **Boss Man** » Sun Aug 16, 2009 7:12 pm

Tough call on that, especially as Yelena Asinbajeva, has been absolutely blitzing the Womens pole vault, for about the last 3-4 years.

I saw her on TV at some track meet a few months ago, getting another world record, the previous one being hers also, which she then beat about 2-3 times on the same night.

Last time I saw anything like that was Jonathon Edwards back in about 1997, getting a Triple Jump W R for Britain, then beating it a couple more times on the same day. I think he still holds that WR now. Albeit he's not competed for about 6 years.

Although the Bolt argument could be sustained on the basis, that he has nothing but himself to help him win, well except some funky shoes perhaps. Debateable if he even needs shoes frankly

, whereas a pole vaulter needs a prop if you will, to assist their performance.

I'm sure if there was a vote for greatest athlete this century, he could win, though it would depend on if it was just a "tell us your favourite" type vote, as opposed to one with maybe 10 fixed options, Asinbajeva definitely having to be one of them.

swanso5 · Post by **swanso5** » Sun Aug 16, 2009 10:27 pm

the way he's breaking records is unhumanlike (that's a word), i doubt whether anyone can go fasrer ever without "tampering"

fitoverforty · Post by **fitoverforty** » Mon Aug 17, 2009 12:34 am

Insane Bolt is right! In watching the race, you can see that in the first few meters he seems a bit stiff, not fluid, but then he finds his groove and at about the halfway mark he just is pure machine, awesome and unstoppable. But I still don't think he is running full out, I think definitely he can run it faster.
I feel for Tyson Gay, there was a point just past the halfway point where it looked like he gained a few inches of ground, then Usian just upped his speed a tad, and it was all over. Tyson is a great runner in his own right, I mean 9.71? That is incredible. I bet when he closes his eyes at night, he still sees those golden shoes, just out of his reach! Ugh!
Do you think it is basically comes down to leg length? Obviously Usian has more height and leg length than Tyson, able to take longer strides, cover more ground with less steps? Is that what gives him the edge? Just curious at to the physics of what makes one runner stronger or faster than another based on physical build alone.
I LOVE watching track & field it is one of the most visual examples of the true grit and determination and triumph of the human spirit!

swanso5 · Post by **swanso5** » Mon Aug 17, 2009 1:14 am

stride length can help but it's more about their contact time...he who can exert more force into the ground will produce more for the subsequent steps...if you watch closely you see they step up and drive down when they sprint

contact time is a product of technique, rate of force development (starting strength) and the stretch shortening cycle (plyometric ability)

www.uponlinetraining.com

fitoverforty · Post by **fitoverforty** » Thu Aug 20, 2009 8:24 pm

Usian Bolt ! 19.19 world record 200 M!!! Incredible!!!

Packard · Post by **Packard** » Fri Aug 21, 2009 7:54 am

I'm taking a "wait and see" attitude about his records. If a couple of years pass and no "undetectable" steroids show up I will accept them. Not yet though.