IOC accuses Bolt of lacking respect

IOC president Jacques Rogge has accused Usain Bolt of showing a lack of respect to other competitors after the Jamaican's world record-breaking gold-medal performances in the 100 and 200 metres.

Rogge hailed Bolt's stunning achievements in the two sprints, comparing him to American great Jesse Owens, but said he should have cut out the showboating and acknowledged the other athletes.

"That's not the way we perceive being a champion," said Rogge. "I have no problem with him doing a show. I think he should show more respect for his competitors and shake hands, give a tap on the shoulder to the other ones immediately after the finish and not make gestures like the one he made in the 100 metres."

Having built a huge lead in Saturday's memorable 100m final, Bolt slowed, glanced around with arms outstretched and pounded his chest before crossing the finish line in a world-record time of 9.69 seconds.

"I understand the joy," Rogge added. "He might have interpreted that in another way, but the way it was perceived was 'catch me if you can.' You don't do that. But he'll learn. He's still a young man."

Bolt, who turned 22 yesterday, stormed to another one-sided victory on Wednesday in the 200m, breaking Michael Johnson's 12-year-old record of 19.32 secs, lowering the mark to 19.30.

Bolt made little effort to congratulate the other runners as he wrapped himself in a Jamaican flag and set off on a solo victory lap. Swaying to the reggae music on the stadium loudspeakers, he walked barefoot around the track, putting his face inches from a TV camera, raising an index finger and yelling, "I am No 1! I am No 1!"

"He still has to mature," Rogge said. "I would love him to show more respect for his competitors. But he will learn in time. He should shake hands with his competitors and not ignore them.

"He'll learn that sooner or later. But (he's] a great athlete, of course."

Bolt became the first man since Carl Lewis in 1984 to win the 100 and 200 golds at a single Olympics, and the only man ever to do it by breaking world records in both. Owens completed the 100-200 sweep at the 1936 Berlin Olympics, before adding golds in the long jump and relay. "Bolt is in another dimension in sprints," Rogge said. "Bolt must be considered now the same way like Jesse Owens should have been in the 1930s."

Bolt, meanwhile, has refused to accept any direct comparisons between his record-breaking achievements and those of legendary American Johnson.

But they may be unavoidable if Bolt, as he hinted after becoming a double-Olympic sprint champion, decides to take up the 400m in time for the 2012 Olympics in London.

"A lot of people compare me to Michael Johnson. I try to be just me, I try to be myself," said Bolt. "Michael Johnson revolutionised the sport. I just changed it a little bit."

But Johnson described Bolt as 'Superman II' and believes the Jamaican, with his 6ft 5in physique and giant stride, could be a "world-class 400m runner". Johnson urged Bolt to set himself new goals after re-writing the history books this week. Bolt suggested after his victory on Wednesday he would consider taking up the 400m after next season's world championships.

And the Jamaican national coach Stephen Francis indicated he may even do it in addition to competing in the 100m and 200m.

Now that would be revolutionary.