Jamaican Usain Bolt set the world championships alight on Sunday in the same Berlin Olympic Stadium where, in 1936, US sprinter Jesse Owens also achieved immortality in front of a much more unsympathetic audience.
While Owens buried a dagger into the heart of the Nazis’ theory on Aryan supremacy, 73 years later Bolt took the world 100m title, shattering his own world record with a time of 9.58 seconds to destroy the mark he set in last year’s Olympic final of 9.69 seconds.
It was also a night to remember for Britain’s Jessica Ennis, who brought her team their first ever gold in the heptathlon at a world championships.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Not even Britain’s 2000 Olympic heroine Denise Lewis could achieve that, delivering two silvers.
There was another gold too for the remarkable 24-year-old New Zealander Valerie Vili, who defended her shot put title to add to her Olympic crown.
However, it was Bolt who lit up the evening as in just 33 strides he destroyed the best sprinters in the world, barely breaking sweat as he broke his own world record a year to the day that he set his previous mark in China.
“I said anything could happen and it did,” Bolt said. “It was a big target, but I got 9.58 seconds and I’m really happy with myself. Now I plan to do even better in the future. I was ready, I was feeling good after the semi-finals. I came out and executed it in the final.”
Tyson Gay of the US ran a national record of 9.71 seconds, but was bemused as to how he still came off second best by almost 2m, seeing his world title stripped from him in the process.
“I showed a lot of heart. I didn’t complain about my groin injury. I blocked everything out in the final and put it together the best I could,” the 27-year-old said. “I’ve been telling you someone can run 9.5 seconds. I’m really happy Usain did it. It shows a human being can take it to the next level. Unfortunately, I wasn’t the one to do it, but I still have confidence I will do it one day.”
PHOTO: EPA
Whether he goes on to defend his 200m world title is open to question with regard to his groin problem and that could well leave the road open for Bolt to add another chapter to his quite extraordinary story.
Ennis missed the Beijing Olympics with a stress fracture, but the 23-year-old refused to let this chance slip.
Even in the final event, the 800m, with victory all but assured, she led from the front and fought back after being passed to ensure she won in style.
“I’ve dreamed about the title, especially after last year’s disappointment [missing the Olympics] and now I have it,” Ennis said. “It was a lot of pressure, but I’ve managed to do it. I’ve already talked to Denise Lewis and she said: ‘You’ve done amazingly.’”
Ennis can now dream of Olympic gold in front of her home supporters in London, while Bolt eyes a golden treble later this week.
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