¿Johnson o Bolt? ¿Quién reinará en 200m luego de Pekín?

Izq. a Der.: Nick Davies, Lamine Diack, Michael Johnson, Mike Powell - IAAF Press Conference (Getty Images)

Johnson on Bolt – IAAF Press Conference, Beijing 2008

relnews Beijing, China - This afternoon in the Bird’s Nest stadium in the Chinese capital, the official IAAF Press Conference of the Games of the XXIX Olympiad was hosted by IAAF President Lamine Diack, who was joined by IAAF Ambassadors Michael Johnson (USA), Wilson Kipketer (DEN) and Mike Powell (USA), who while long retired remain the World record holders for the 200/400m, 800m and Long Jump, respectively.

With the men’s 200m final tonight and a certain Mr. Bolt competing, the extraordinary ability the Jamaican Olympic 100m champion was the centre of conversation. And who better to give his view point but the current holder of the World record for 200m?

When Michael Johnson flashed through the finish line at the end of the Olympic 200m final in Atlanta 12 years go, stopping the clock at 19.32, few who witnessed it could quite believe their eyes. It was, by common consent, one of the most amazing track performances ever seen.

After the men’s 100m final on Saturday (16), those lucky enough to be in Beijing’s National Stadium were left with a similar feeling. For minutes after Usain Bolt showboated through the line, those giant orange figures – ‘9.69’ – glaring out into the sticky night, virtually everyone in the stands, whether spectators, journalists, or volunteers, stayed on their feet struggling to comprehend what they’d seen.

One of those left open-mouthed at Bolt’s barrier-breaking performance was Johnson himself. And the man who redefined 200m running a dozen years ago is in no doubt about the magnitude of Bolt’s achievement.

“It was the most impressive athletic performance I’ve ever seen in my life,” said Johnson after four days of reflection. “The fact that he could have run even faster was amazing to watch. It was an incredible performance and a great way to start the athletics.”

Johnson, now a coach, manager, TV pundit and IAAF Ambassador, was speaking at the international federation’s press conference today (Wednesday) reflecting on the athletics programme so far at the Beijing Games.


“I certainly expected Bolt to win,” added Johnson. “But I can’t say I expected him to do what he did. I didn’t think he was going to run 9.69 – well, I didn’t think he was going to do 9.62 which I think he could have done if he’d run through the line and tied up his laces.”

Johnson believes Bolt’s secret lies in a unique combination of size and incredible leg speed.

“When you see someone of that size run that quickly, doing something physiologically that we’ve never seen before, then we are going to get incredible times,” he said.

But not quite as incredible as 19.32. Johnson believes his own world record will be broken eventually, perhaps by Bolt. But not in Beijing – as many have speculated.

“He has incredible leg speed and a long stride,” said Johnson. “That combination is deadly.

“But the 200m has another element which is speed endurance. What we don’t know is how long he can hold that speed. I don’t think his training at the moment has enough endurance for that.

“But eventually it will have and then I will be ready to kiss my record goodbye.

“I don’t think he’ll break it here,” he added. “I will be shocked if he does. To run 19.3 he’s going to have to run the curve a lot better and hold his speed to the line. But then I didn’t think he was going to run 9.69.”

Bold, bewildering dash

For Lamine Diack, Bolt’s bold, bewildering dash was the highlight of the Games so far. “It was a fantastic 100m,” said the IAAF President.

“We also had Yelena Isinbayeva who confirmed what everyone was expecting. Three world records, six Olympic records, numerous continental records and many many national records have been broken.”

“I do think we can say things have gone very well. We have every reason to be satisfied so far. I said on the eve of the Olympics that the Games will begin once the athletics begin.”

“We have 200 countries here, and thousands of athletes. What has happened shows we are a universal sport. In our sport everyone stands a chance.”

“Any country, however small, can turn out an Olympic champion. Twenty-four countries have already won medals in athletics and this will continue to grow to the end of the Games. This is a very democratic sport. Everyone has a chance as long as they train hard.”

Unless they come up against Usain Bolt, of course.

Matthew Brown for the IAAF

fuente: IAAF