Bolt backed to break nine seconds

World 100 metres record holder Usain Bolt could break the nine-second barrier if he gets a start as fast as his training partner Yohan Blake, according to the former world 200 metres record holder Tommie Smith.

Bolt, who was beaten by Blake in both the 100m and 200m at this year’s Jamaican trials, set 
his world record of 9.58 seconds at the 2009 Berlin world championships. He also reduced his own world 200 record to 19.19 
in Berlin.

“If he gets a Blake start, we are looking at 8.9, 8.88, three eights in the 100 metres,” said Smith yesterday. “If he gets a Blake start in the 200 and comes off the turn with that technique of his, he might really go sub-19.”

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Smith set a world record of 19.83 seconds in the thin air of Mexico City at the 1968 Olympics, a mark which stood for 11 years. On Smith’s own reckoning if he had not lost speed by raising his arms in triumph over the final strides he would “have been pushing 18.9, 19.1, 19.2.”

“I thought I was great when I ran,” Smith added. “I didn’t have the start and I didn’t have the power. My average speed was quite close to Usain Bolt’s speed. But he gained his full speed, I would say, five metres, six or seven strides sooner than I did. He’s so powerful that he can get full speed 40 metres out in the 100, 120 metres of the 200.

“He’s taller than me and more powerful. It scares you.”

Americans Smith and John Carlos, who finished third in Mexico City, provided one of the iconic images of the turbulent 1960s when they bowed their heads and raised black-gloved fists at the victory ceremony in an unprecedented protest on behalf of their oppressed black compatriots. Smith was in London for a brief visit at the invitation of the campaign group Operation Black Vote, who paid for his fare, where he will help promote the film “Salute”, which tells the story of Australian Peter Norman who finished second 
in Mexico City. Smith will also attend the athletics competition at the London Olympics next month. Norman, who died in 2006, wore a human rights badge on the podium in support of Smith and Carlos. None of the trio 
was ever selected to run for his country again.

Meanwhile, fears over Bolt’s fitness were addressed by his agent yesterday, who said he will be in good shape and firing 
on all cylinders for the the 
Olympics. Bolt had worried London organisers as well as his legion of fans when he flew to Munich for treatment by sports doctor Hans-Wilhelm Müller-Wohlfahrt after Blake edged him out in both the 100m and 200m at the Olympic trials. But Bolt’s agent Ricky Simms has attempted to play down fears he is a doubt for the Games, adding the 25-year-old was merely suffering from tightness in his hamstring. “He’s back to normal, he’s back in full training and he’s good to go,” said Simms. “His body is back to normal. The muscle tightness has gone.”

Simms acknowledged Bolt nursed the minor problem at the Olympic trials at the National Stadium in Kingston. But, after managing to qualify for London in spite of the complaint, the Jamaican was told by his coach to fully recover before he can prepare to defend his 100m, 200m and 4x100m crowns at the Games. “He had a slightly tight hamstring during the trials and that’s why possibly he didn’t push as hard as he could have,” added Simms. “He was just protecting that. The main thing at the trials was to get through and get on the team for the Olympic Games. His coach decided that he needs to get a little bit of massage and treatment on that and rest up, and then train again hard next week so that he’s ready for the Olympic Games.”

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