Brilliant Bolt makes sure lightning strikes twice

THERE was no nonsense this time, no slowing down to savour the moment. Usain Bolt meant business.

Before the final of the men's 200 metres, world record holder Michael Johnson dismissed the idea his time of 19.32 seconds, set at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, was under serious threat. He said that Bolt probably would better it one day, but not now, not on this stage. He was wrong. Bolt finished first in a new best of 19.30, eclipsing Johnson's mark by two hundredths of a second.

The Jamaican became not only the first sprinter since Carl Lewis in 1984 to win both the 100m and 200m at an Olympics, but the first man ever to do so while setting new world records in both events. It was a stunning display of sprinting which devastated the entire field and they trailed in rag-tag behind him.

In fact, one by one it was revealed that the unofficial bronze medallist Wallace Spearman and then silver medallist Churandy Martina had strayed out of their lanes in a forlorn attempt to stay with him. Defending champion Shawn Crawford, who had crossed the line 0.66 seconds behind Bolt and Walter Dix, who came third in the 100m on Saturday, were elevated to second and third place respectively.

But what happened behind him was almost irrelevant. This was about Bolt. Having virtually stopped running after 50m in the blue riband event at the weekend, waving to the crowd and almost jogging over the line, he had said the times hadn't interested him. It was about winning Olympic gold. Last night, with an expectant 91,000 crammed into the Bird's Nest stadium, he revised that.

"I have been saying all season that the 200m means a lot more to me that the 100m. I have been dreaming about this since I was knee-high and it means a lot more to me. I told myself, if I'm going to get the world record, it is going to be here because the track is really fast. The 200m has been my love since I was 15 and I was the youngest ever to win the World Junior Championships. From that day on it has been dear to my heart. I knew I could go that fast and had shown the potential all season, running good, fast times but to do it after seven rounds is a bit special. I was watching the replay, thinking 'I look pretty cool' and 'that guy is fast!' I did a lot of work on the 200m and everything came together tonight and I blew my mind. I blew the world's mind."

As he walked into the press conference, he indulged in the same posturing he offers the watching public before he crouches down into his starting blocks. Then as he was introduced as the 200m champion and new world record holder he leaned back in his seat and punched the air. But there was no arrogance to it, this was a young guy having fun and celebrating not only a sensational sporting achievement but also his birthday. By the time he got round to doing the media work, it was after midnight and he had just turned 22. Making history on the world stage was not a bad way to mark the occasion, he admitted. Although there was to be no raucous partying. "I'm just really looking forward to going to my bed and then waking up and celebrating my birthday."

The Jamaican prime minister had been one of the first to congratulate Bolt. Even in a country blessed with a wealth of top sprinters and one of the favourites to triumph in the 4x100m tomorrow night, his blistering speed was still something special. "It means a lot for me and my country. I spoke to the prime minister on the phone and he told me everybody is in the streets. He told me I have written history, pretty much, and I'm proud of that."

Setting off in lane five, Bolt rose from the blocks and unravelled his lanky frame to effortlessly break into his giant stride pattern. He rounded the bend majestically and with the finish in view, he ate up the home straight. Underlining just how seriously he was taking this one, he even dipped for the line.

When the time flashed up on the screen there was mayhem. The 100m run had been scorching but Johnson's record was also supposed to be unbeatable. This was a significant moment and everyone in the arena recognised that.

Johnson called him Superman. Bolt only laughed at that. "I'm Lightning Bolt. I'm not Superman, not Flash Gordon or anybody else. My name is Bolt, Lightning Bolt!"

And he is not the new Michael Johnson either. "A lot of people keep comparing me to Michael but I'm not comparing myself to other people, I'm trying to just be me. Michael Johnston was a great athlete and he reinvented the sport, but I just changed it a bit more."

The magnitude of his achievements and ability to translate his power and speed meant there were also questions about the chances of attacking Johnson's 400m record. "Don't hold your breath," he said. "I won't be running the 400m any time soon."

Johnson will be relieved to hear it. Up in his gantry position where he was working for BBC, the man many thought was untouchable seemed to accept that he was both beaten and wrong, and as Bolt danced and partied his way around his lap of honour, the American caught his eye. There was no animosity. He simply offered a thumbs up.

BACKGROUND

USAIN Bolt becomes the first man since American great Carl Lewis in 1984 to complete the 100 and 200 metre sprint double in one Olympics.

Five other Americans have also done the double, including Jesse Owens famously in the 1936 Games in Berlin. The others are Archie Hahn (1904), Ralph Craig (1912), Eddie Tolan (1932) and Bobby Joe Morrow (1956).

Valery Borzov of the Soviet Union claimed both events in 1972, while Canada's Percy Williams also did so in 1928, his 200m exactly two and a half seconds slower than Bolt's.

FACT BOX

• Usain Bolt was born in Trelawny, Jamaica on 21 August 1986. He is 22 today.

2008 Olympic results:

Two gold medals (100m and 200m)

Career achievements:

Silver medallist, 2007 World Championships at 200m

Silver medallist, 2007 World Championships at 4x100m relay

Previous Olympic result:

Heats, 2004 Olympics (200m)

Bolt became the ninth man to win the Olympic sprint double yesterday and the first since Carl Lewis in 1984.

He set the 100m world record on 31 May and broke it again on 16 August, setting a time of 9.69 seconds. In the 200m he also set a new world record of 19.30secs.

• He played cricket at school but his coach recognised he was also quick on his feet and suggested he try sprinting.

• He won the 2002 world junior 200m title, becoming the youngest ever world junior champion aged 15. He added the world youth 200m title a year later and obliterated the 200m junior world record, running 19.93 seconds, in 2004.