I Ain’t No One’s Bitch But My Own !

Well on Sunday , it was exactly a year to the day when Usain Bolt got on the world stage and set the track and field world alight with his electrifying performances at the Beijing Olympics. Come full circle , and on Sunday, Bolt was at it again, as he decimated a world class field of 100m sprinters in the men’s finals of the event , at the IAAF’s World Track & Field Championships, in Berlin, Germany.

Bolt is mobbed locals as well as several Jamaicans in attendance at the Olympic Stadium in Berlin , Germany at the IAAF World Track & Field Championships. picture appears courtesy of getty images/ Wolfgang Schrader ................

Sunday, Bolt obliterated a field that included his arch rival, American Tyson Gay . As well his fellow Jamaican countrymen, Asafa Powell . In a blistering display of sheer speed and athleticism , Bolt laid waste to the claims that Gay ought to be viewed as the presumptive favorite in the race. Albeit, that the American had ran the fastest time in the world this year , at 9.77 seconds.

On the very same track where the hero of the 1936 Summer Olympics , Jesse Owens staged his very own dominance over Hitler’s Aryan race and thoughts of supremacy as to they, being a superior race . Bolt left an indelible mark on those present in the arena and the tens of millions of fans watching worldwide. He raced out of the starting blocks in the 100 meters sprint finals and by sixty meters , he had the race won . However , it wasn’t so much the ease with which the young Jamaican won the race. It was more so the fact , that the lowered the world record once again. In clocking a time of 9.59 seconds , Bolt became the first man to run a sub 9.60 for the 100m event. And had he not began to slow up over the last ten meters while pulling away from the rest of the field. There’s no doubt that he could’ve ran a great deal faster and been under 9.50 seconds for the event.

Bolt closing down on the finish line in the men's 100m final at the World Championships in Berlin. Finishing a distant second was America's Tyson Gay with Bolt's fellow countryman Asafa Powell finishing third. picture appears courtesy of bbc.co.uk/sports/ Adam Walsh ....................

As for Tyson Gay, this was once again a tremendous disappointment. Having failed to make the finals of the event in Beijing. He once again comes home disappointed. Furthermore it’s now being widely reported that the Gay may well not participate in the highly anticipated 200m event , where there also Bolt is the current Olympic champion and world record holder in the event. One can either alluded to the fact that Gay might not want to be further embarrassed , or he may well be injured or simply feigning injury in order to get out of having to face the dominant young Jamaican sprinter. It’d appear that as far as the intimidation factor goes. It may well be that it’s now Usain Bolt who’s now the most dominant athlete in the world , rather than Tiger Woods or Roger Federer , for that matter. The latter of whom , have both suffered rather embarrassing defeats at the hands of lesser opponents over the weekend.

Bolt stands by the clock in the Olympic Stadium having just lowered tghe world record to 9.58 in the men's 100 m in the finals at IAAF World Track & Field Championships . picture appears courtesy of getty images/ Wolfgang Schrader ................

To my mind , I do feel that Gay is proving to be a chicken , more than anything else. He’ll once again use the excuse of an injury , rather than having to face the embarrassment of being beaten by a much better prepared and physically gifted athlete. And probably not wanting to be thought of as Usain Bolt’s bi_ch once again. Moreover , in the eyes of many should he not participate at all in the 200m , it gives the perception that he’s also running scared. Hardly what you’d come to expect of an alleged world class track star , now is it ? I suppose he’s rather be his own bi_ch , than someone else’s ?

Punch Drunk Love ……..

We were all no doubt inspired by the spectacular achievements by swimmer Michael Phelps at the Beijing Olympics of 2008. And no one can deny the astounding physical feats of the athlete , who was aslo ably abetted by his teammates in the team relay events. In total , Phelps won eight gold medals in Beijing. And when one bears in mind that he also won 6 previously, at the Athens (Summer) Olympics of 2004 . His tally of fourteen gold medals cannot be overlooked. And the fact that it also made him the most successful Olympian ever , adds to his mystique and esteem.

Michael Phelps competing in the men's 200m individual medley at the Beijing Olympics (2008). It was one eight gold medals won by the athlete in the aquatic events at the games. picture appears courtesy of sports illustrated / Heniz Kluetmeier ......................

And throughout much of NBC‘s coverage of the Summer Olympics in Beijing. We were force fed every bit of jingoism and alleged patriotism that they could possibly squeeze out of the apparent story. No rock was left unturned by the network during the coverage. And in the end I’ve got to admit that the I began to get bored with the whole notion that the world evolved solely around this one American athlete in Beijing. Very little was made , if any , as to one of Phelps’ own teammates, Eric Shanteau . The swimmer, having been diagnosed with testicular cancer , chose to put off immediate treatment in the form of chemotherapy, in order to compete in Beijing. Whilst there Shanteau was closely monitored by the US Olympic swim team’s medical staff and his own personal physician who was on-hand to monitor his patient.

Usain Bolt crosses the finish line in a world and Olympic record time of 9.69 in the men's 100m finals at the 2008 Olympics held in Beijing , China. picture appears courtesy of getty images/ asia pacific/ Shaun Botterill ...........................

It’d appear that a story that was emotionally rich as that of Shanteau’s , bearly warranted mentioning. And for NBC one would’ve thought that , was all too big a story to overlook to begin with. But somehow it warranted merely nothing more than a menial sound byte in the end. It was all about Phelps , his heroics and that of the female gymnasts competing. And oh, less we forget the The Redeem Team as they were being called, the members of the US men’s basketball team. It’d be remiss also to forget their female counterparts, who like the men were made up completely of professionals from their respective professional leagues.

Eric Shanteau competing in the men's 200m breastroke prelimimnaries in Beijing , China. picture appears courtesy of getty images/ Mark Dadswell ..................

And while no doubts the achievements of Phelps there were other extraordinary accomplishments made in Bejiing. They may not have warranted the attention that was given to Phelps. But inexplicably it all became about the swimmer’s achievements. In comparison , however who can forget the explosive feats of Jamaican sprinter , Usain Bolt ? The track and field star obliterated the record books and rewrote Olympic history on track. His feat in breaking the world and Olympic records in the men’s 100m and 200m , to go alongside that of the sprint relay in the 4x100m , was enough of a message to have been heard around the world like a thunderous boom. Those feats in of themselves were enough to spotlight some of the lesser known competitors and that of their nations.

A triumphant Phelps alongside his teammates celebrate their victory in the men's 4x100 medley relay finals in Beijing . picture appears courtesy of afp/getty images/ Timothy Clark ...............

And now as we come full circle whereby Phelps and his fellow competitors are competing at the FINA World Swimming Championships in Rome, Italy. The eyes of the world are once again are said to be on Michael Phelps. It was hoped that the swimmer would be able to triumph once again over his foes. Many of whom , he’d defeated in Beijing , would also be competing in Rome, also. That being said in light of the controversy that has taken place concerning the swimsuits worn by the racers there at the event. We knew it would be too good to be true . If Phelps , himself, wasn’t somehow involved or became a part of the unfolding debacle that has thus far surrounded the event.

A stunned Phelps looks up in disbelief after finishing second in the men's 200m freesytle finals at the World Championships in Rome. picture appears courtesy of ap/photo / Mark J. Terrill ....................

FINA (Federation Internationale de Natation) , the international governing body of the sport recently had introduced rules and regulations that would ban the polyuerathane suits now being worn by the competitors. It is their wish that all competitive suits for future FINA sanctioned events will be made of natural textile. However, the ban itself will not take effect until 2010. In partcular the suits that were being headlighted , were the LZR suit made by Speedo . And that of the Arena X glide suit. Pandora’s box was initially opened up by FINA. Given the fact that they saw fit not have any rules in place concerning the suits. In the past eighteen months 125 world records have been broken in differing disciplines in the pool. Let’s just say that the suits are swimming’s answer to the steroid problem we now see engulfing the sports of baseball and that of cycling . But without the competitiors having to subject themselves to mercilessly having to inject themselves with an illecit substance.

Phelps and his coach seated to his left , Bob Bowman in Beijing , China during the Olympics. picture appears courtesy of getty images/ Kristian Dowling .................

At the world championships in Rome thus far , over a dozen world records have succumbed to the competitors at the event.And in spite of this all , nothing would prepare those of us who took interest in one Phelps’ best event. That of the men’s 200m freestyle, an event in which Phelps previously had held the world record. In the finals, however , the unthinkable would happen. As Phelps was defeated by the German swimmer Paul Biedermann who shattered Phelps’ own world record , in a time of 1m 42.00 secs , bettering the previous record by 96/100ths of a second. However. the actions of Phelps’ coach Bob Bowman smacked of that, of an infantile schoolchild who’d been scolded, having been caught doing something wrong. Bowman was contemptuous of the victor, stating …..’ that his use of a polyuerathane suit that gave Biedermann an unacceptable advantage’. Bearing mind that Phelps also wore a suit similar in design but without the same buoyancy as that of Biedermann’s. Mindful of this , the question one must now ask . With Phelps’ own accomplishments in Beijing how is it that now Bowman should be angered at his pupil’s defeat ? Was this not the same individual , himself who also wore a LZR suit to victory in Beijing , China ? It somehow appears that Bowman can mete out punishment via his pupil. But is somehow is not quite as gracious in defeat. He then suggested that he’d withdraw Phelps from all other events he’d entered Foro di Italia venue in Rome, were the controversy not sorted out concerning the use of the swimsuits.

Phelps on his way to winning the men's 200m butterfly final at the World Championships in Rome. Phelps would go on to win the event in world record time. picture appears courtesy of afp/getty images/ Filippo Monteforte ........................

Granted , Phelps has obtained a reprieve by then going out and shattering his own world record in the men’s 200m butterfly final in a time of 1m 51.51 seconds. They state that revenge is a dish best served cold. But I think that in the case of Bowman , his type of revenge is to berate others when his pupil doesn’t perform up to par. Or perhaps show that he’s invincible ? Much of that may have come about by the praise heaped upon Phelps’ shoulders and the very fact that soon afterwards the swimmer’s all too glaring frailties came to the fore. Bowman for his part didn’t seem to be all that mindful at the time. Moreover, he too may well have been caught up in the allure and attention that both he and Phelps were said to be getting.

I’ve Heard It All Before The State Of US Men’s ……Insert Sport Here

I’ve heard it all before the state of US men’s tennis , US men’s soccer, US men’s track & field . Well the question I’ve got to to ask why we ought to be believe that the US men are meant to be the dominant force in the world when it comes to the such athletic endeavors as track & field, soccer , much less tennis ? I mean since the retirement of Andre Agassi and Pete Sampras . The US hasn’t produced a player of reverence much less on par with the dominance of the duo of Agassi and Sampras, who reigned supreme on the tennis courts.

Bolt sprints his way into the history books. Having just won the men's 100m Olympic final. In doing so the young Jamaican also broke the world and Olympic record for the event. The record set now stands 9.69 seconds for the event. Claiming the silver medal was Richard Thompson of Trinidad & Tobago with bronze medal claimant being US's Walter Dix. picture appears courtesy of afp/reuters/ Marcel Proust ...............

And now the assertion is being made that Tyson Gay the reigning 100m and 200m world champion is back on track to usurp the dominance of reigning world record holder and Olympic champion in the 100m and 200m in Usain Bolt . And when considers the dominance of Bolt at the Beijing Olympics. It’s easy to understand why Gay may well feel disatisfied at his present status as the guy everyone seems to have forgotten . It’s now Usain Bolt’s world and everyone else is merely a spectator watching .

Bolt wins the men's 200m finals at the Beijing Olympics defeating Shawn Crawford and Walter Dix. Bolt recorded a time of 19.30 smashing the former world and Olympic record of Michael Johnson. picture appears courtesy of getty images/Mark Dadswell ............

And whilst the mantel of being the world’s fastest man doesn’t seem to have the resonance it once had. It has to be said once the quadrennial event of the Olympics comes around. All eyes bear down on the men’s 100m finals. In Beijing it was allegedly about swimmer Michael Phelps and his path to Olympic sporting immortality. Whilst one can’t detract from his feat of winning 8 Olympic gold medals . His feat while astonishing pales into comparison as to the immediate explosiveness as to Bolt’s astonishing feats in the men’s 100m and 200m finals , as well as the 4x100m men’s sprint relay finals.

Tyson Gay seen here competing in a European Golden League track and field meeting in Rome, Italy. Gay would record the world’s fastest time in the event this year so far. His time of 9.77 seconds was .08 seconds off the world record time of Usain Bolt.

That triumvirate of events will stand the test of time in the annals of Olympic history. And thought records are there to be broken. It may well take another astonishing feat of human endeavor for those records to be broken with the ease that Bolt shattered both of the sprint events. And then joining his teammates to completely obliterate the men’s 4x100m men’s relay world record. The record itself was held by the US team. And thought not frequently in danger of being broken. What took place in Beijing last summer took away the breaths of many in astonishment.

With the IAAF’s (International Assoc. Athletics Federation) World Championships about to take place in Berlin, Germany from the 15th -23rd August 2009 . It can be be said that the expectations are high . The meeting of the duo is widely anticipated. Given the fact that Gay’s Olympic appearance proved to be a tremendous disappointment for his fans and the patriots back at home in the US. The weight of the country may no longer be upon Gay’s shoulders at this point. But his reputation has been given a severe dent. And until he redeems himself in the eyes of his peers and fans. He’ll have to walk in the giant shadow that has been cast by Usain Bolt over the sport.

As for Bolt , himself, he’s started off his season rather impressively. And at the same time it’d appear that Tysom Gay is prepared to match him step for step in terms of the races they’ve chosen to undertake. Gay will have the advantage of knowing that as the world champion his berth is guaranteed on the US team. But at the same time he’ll chose to compete in the upcoming trials.

But as Tyson Gay competes on the lucrative European track and field circuit. He knows that races such as this count for nothing in terms of real acclaim and notoriety. It’s the championships and world records that count.

Tyson Gay sprints to victory in taking the men's 100m title at the world championships in Osaka, Japan , in 2007. picture appears courtesy of afp/reuters/ Phillip Marshall ................

And as we all know there was a time where the United States was the pre-eminent nation in men’s track and field. And that’s especiall true when it comes to the sprint events. The illustrious champions through the ages that we’ve come to know through the ages are names that’ve become synonymous with the art of great sprinting. Illustrious names such as Bob Hayes, Carl Lewis, Jim Hines , Harvey Glance , Jesse Owens and Maurice Greene. These have been the men that’ve rewritten the sports as far US male sprinting is concerned.

It’d be remiss to think that the US men can’t regain the stature that they once held with great esteem with regard to track and field. But it’s extremely hard to see where many of those world class track and field athletes will emanate from. As the men’s domninance continues to wane. We’ve seen a number of countries rise in prominence, seeking to lay claim to producing the top track athletes in the world.

Maurice Greene , the Olympic 100m champion at the 2000 Olympic games held in Sydney , Australia. Greene was also a world record holder in the event. He has the most sub 10 second races ran in the event in history. picture appears courtesy of afp/photo/ Martin Bell .................

If we’re to see the US men regain their stature as the top track and field competitors in the world. Then the upcoming world championships will either give us an indication as to how far they’ve fallen or whether or not they’ve risen to the heights that they once held. And it’ll be left to Tyson Gay to assure the world that the US is back.

Carl Lewis whose exploits at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles placed him amongst a select few men that've achieved the 'sprint double' of the 100m & 200m in the same Olympic games. Lewis joins Jesse Owens and the most recent recipient Usain Bolt to have achieved that feat . What Lewis also achieved in '84 was to equal the feat of Owens in winning the 100m, 200m , men's long jump and then as a team member the 4x100m team relay. picture appears courtesy of afp/reuters/ Allan Snowe ...........................

Usain Bolt for his part will be out to prove to us all that what took place in Beijing was simply not a fluke at all. He’s become measured and more self assured . And that if anything is a always a great advantange to have over an opponent.