BEIJING — It began early in the morning, with Michael Phelps reaching his way into the record books by the slimmest of margins and ended nearly 13 hours later across the street with a lightning bolt from Jamaica scorching the 100-meter field.
An epic day in Olympic history framed by two seismic accomplishments, Phelps edging Serbian Milorad Cavic in the 100-meter butterfly by one hundredth of a second and Usain Bolt of Jamaica flying to a world record 9.69 before 91,000 delirious fans late into the Beijing night. Bolt blew into the record book despite showboating the last 10 meters after seeing no one in his rearview mirror.
Two historic feats, one remarkable day of competition at the first blue-sky day of these Games.
It was a day filled with everything from women’s wrestling to fencing to badminton to track cycling — with local Taylor Phinney making the first of what could be many Olympic appearances — but defined by the greatness of Phelps, the most decorated Olympian of all time, and Bolt, the new world’s fastest man. Those bookend achievements mark this Olympiad among the greatest ever.
The Denver Post
