Usain bolts home in magical night at the Bird’s Nest
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.
Awesome Bolt takes 100m / 200m double with world record time
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