BEIJING — Jamaica’s Usain Bolt took down one of the most respected world records in track and field today, breaking the 200-meter standard Michael Johnson set in the 1996 Olympics.
Bolt also became the first man to win the 100 and 200 in the same Olympics since Carl Lewis in 1984.
“I just blew my mind,” Bolt said, “and I blew the world’s mind.”
Running all by himself as he did while breaking his own 100-meter world record last Saturday, Bolt was timed in 19.30 seconds, .02 faster than Johnson’s record.
“I don’t compare myself a lot to other people, because I’m trying to be just me,” Bolt said. “Michael Johnson is a great athlete, he revolutionized the sport. I just changed it a little bit.”
Americans Shawn Crawford (19.96) and Walter Dix (19.98) took the silver and bronze medals after Churandy Martina of Dutch Antilles and Wallace Spearmon of the U.S. were disqualified for lane violations. Crawford and Dix were in fourth and fifthbefore the disqualifications. Dix also claimed bronze in the 100.
Johnson’s record had not been seriously challenged in the 12 years since the electrifying night he set it in Atlanta. His mark was .3 of a second faster than No. 2 on the list, run by Tyson Gay last year.
“It means a lot to me, I know it means a lot to the country as well,” the 6-foot-5 Bolt said. “I talked to the prime minister, he told me everything in Jamaica is blocked off, everybody is in street.”
Bolt’s previous best was 19.67. This record means more to him than the one he set last week because he already held the 100-meter record, and because the 200 is his favorite event.
“The 200 has been my love since I was 15,” said Bolt, who turns 22 on Thursday. “It’s dear to my heart.”
Bolt has an engaging personality, quick to smile and quip. Asked what he was thinking when he watched a video replay of his race, he said: “I look cool … That guy is fast.”
The .3 of a second the separates Bolt and Johnson from everyone else who has run the 200 may not seem like much, but it is a huge margin in sprinting.
“He’s just blessed with an uncanny brain, uncanny quickness, huge competitive heart,” said former track star Renaldo Nehemiah. “He is having a good time, which I think our sport really needs to see. And he has all the advantages of technology. This track is built for speed. With his talent, it was only a matter of time.”
John Meyer: 303-954-1616 or jmeyer@denverpost.com
