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Usain bolts home in magical night at the Bird’s Nest

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My wife and I were privileged enough to be just two people in a crowd of over 90 000 that witnessed Usain Bolt dash home in world record time in the glamour event at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. His time of 9.69 run in the 100m final made it one of the great runs in Olympic history.

The photo above, although not the best you are likely to see shows just how he dominated the event. The expected challenge from Asafa Powell did not eventuate and it was left to Bolt to thrill the crowd, and that he did.

Having been to sporting events in China in the past I am amazed at how their behaviour has changed over the years. The atmosphere in the Olympic Stadium for the 100m final was the most electrifying I have witnessed. The crowd went off once the athletes arrived at the start of the 100m.

The level of excitement lifted about 20 notches and you knew you were witnessing something special. As the start drew near a message went up on the giant screen calling for quiet to allow the starter to be heard. The crowd made up of mainly Chinese obeyed.

The tension built as the starter yelled out “On your marks”… the gun sounded and the stadium exploded with noise and excitement. It was now the Usain Bolt show.

He glided to the front of the pack as thousands of flashbulbs glittered in the night. Within a blink of an eye Bolt crossed the line and moments later the realisation of a new world record hit the crowd.

This added to the moment. It was one thing to be part of the main event at the 2008 Beijing Olympics but to see the world record of 9.69 was another thing. The roar of the crowd had still not diminished as the Olympic champion played it up to the crowd and the watching billions around the globe.

The crowd cheered as if they never wanting the moment to end. It was a bit like a music crowd calling for an encore. The best that could be done was some serious strutting and some flag waving from Bolt but that was what the crowd wanted to see.

This was truely a night to remember in hot and steamy Beijing.

Another Aussie world athletics champion to miss China Olympics

Australia’s hopes of winning an Olympic gold medal in the track and field competition at the Beijing Olympics have taken another blow. First it was Jana Rawlinson who withdrew from the games due to injury. Now 50km walk world champion Nathan Deakes has been forced out with a hamstring tear.

Deakes was hoping to improve on his Athens Olympics 20km bronze medal when he took to the streets of Beijing. His chance of doing so has no been taken away due to a chronic hamstring injury. This is an injury he has battled for the past four years.

The injury popped up again while working out at his St Moritz training base. An MRI scan showed that the best option was to undergo surgery to repair the muscle.

Deakes speaking from Switzerland said it was no a surreal feeling. He was sure it would hit him harder as August comes and he is watching the games rather than competing.

With Deakes and Rawlinson out of the Australian athletics team it is hard to see where a gold medal will come from. Craig Mottram in the 5000m is one of Australia’s main contenders for a medal at the China Olympics. Steve Hooker in the pole vault is another that I give some chance.

USA Beijing Olympics Track and Field roster

Recently the best track and field athletes battled it out for spots on the team USA roster for the Beijing Olympics to be held in China from August 8, 2008.

The Olympic track and field competition commences on Friday 15th August. There are 47 gold medals up for grabs.

The US athletes that won their spot are listed below:

Jana Pittman’s Olympic curse continues

Australia’s Jana Rawlinson (Pittman) was hit by injury going into the Athens Olympics. On that occasion she managed to still turn up to compete however was down on form. In an even bigger blow the 400m hurdles world champion has pulled out of the Beijing Olympics in China due to a foot injury.

Plantar Fasciitis was reported as the reason for pulling out. This painful foot injury made it impossible for Pittman to put in the training required to compete in Beijing.

Pittman decided withdrawing from the Beijing Olympic games was a necessary step in order to prevent problems that will force her out of the sport altogether. She is talking about competing in the London Olympics and maybe beyond.

The news comes just days after another top rated 400m hurdles runner also announced she would be missing from the Olympics. Russia’s top prospect Yuliya Pechonkina who is the 400m hurdles world record holder, withdrew as she is troubled by a heart problem.

Also missing from the China Olympics is USA’s Lashinda Demus. She missed selection at the US Olympic trials. Demus had run the fastest time of the year in this tough event.

Gay injured at US track and field Olympic trials

Athletics is a tough business. Just ask Tyson Gay. Just days after running the fastest ever 100m and booking his ticket to the Beijing Olympics he has crashed back down to earth.

Running in the quarterfinal heat for the 200m the American speedster fell to the track in pain from what was later described as a “severe cramp” in his left hamstring.

Now it remains to be seen what impact this will have on his Beijing chances. First of all will he be able to take his place in the US Olympic team for the Olympics in China. He has just over a month to be fit and ready to run.

As the world 200m champion, Gay was favoured to win this event in Beijing. After pulling out of the event at the trials this will not happen as there are no second chances. You perform at the trials or miss out.

The next few days will be important as the injury is assessed and the path forward is determined.

Let’s hope he is fit and ready to take his spot in Beijing come this August.

Lagat on his way to Beijing after US track win in 5000m

Bernard Lagat earned his ticket to Beijing on Monday at the US track and field Olympic trials. He won the 5000m final in a time of 13 mins, 24.47 seconds.

Lagat is the 1500 and 5000 meter world champion and is looking to do the double in Beijing. Lagat who previously ran as a Kenyan in the Sydney Olympics and Athens will be hoping to continue his progression in the 1500m. He won bronze in 2000 and silver in 2004. Will it be gold in Beijing, China?

Brian Clay, who collected silver in the 2004 Olympic Decathlon is also on his way to Beijing after winning the US trials in a world season leading 8832 points. This was his personal best score and the highest by an American in 16 years.

Another winner who is bound for Beijing is the winner of the 800-meter men’s final, Nick Symmonds.

Tyson Gay runs fastest ever 100 meters to claim Beijing berth

When is the fastest time ever not a world record? It could be the run in 1988 at the Seoul Olympics when Ben Johnson was busted for drugs. It could also be when a 4.1 meters-per-second tailwind assists the runners.

In this case it was the latter. Tyson Gay running in the final of the 100m men’s event at the US Olympic track and field trials ran the amazing time of 9.68 seconds. As the tailwind was above the limit of 2 meters-per-second the run does not count as a world record. Nonetheless he has shown that the 100m final at the Olympics will not be a race just between the two Jamaicans Bolt and Powell.

Second across the line was Walter Dix in 9.80, followed by Darvis Patton.

2008 USA Olympic Trials - Track and Field underway

The USA Olympic trials are currently underway Hayward Field, University of Oregon - Eugene, Oregon.

After many hours of dedication this is where it all begins or ends as the best athletes in the USA compete for a spot on the USA track and field team for the 2008 Beijing Olympics in China.

Yesterday the Women’s 100m Final took place. Muna Lee grabbed first place ahead of Torri Edwards and Lauryn Williams. Those girls are off to Beijing.

On Sunday the men’s 100m final is scheduled for 4.49pm. In the quarterfinals Tyson Gay ran 9.77 to break Maurice Greene’s American record of 9.79 set in Athens in 1999. The trials are not about breaking records but booking a place on the Olympic team.

The trials conclude on Sunday, July 6. The final event to be run on the track is the 1500m men’s final which is scheduled for 5.50pm.

To get all the results or read the latest USA Olympic track and field trials news you can visit the USATF website.

I am looking forward to seeing the 100m men’s final in Beijing live from within the Birds nest stadium.

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