Bolt 400m Rio?

[TDB]

http://www.iol.co.za/sport/athletics/bo ... DWwbIl5mc0

It's on the front page so I thought I'd rehash this here as well. Bolt running the 400m dash in Rio? While I'm going to say Bolt in the 400m is not as preposterous as Jeremy Wariner in the 800, I'm still going to go ahead and say its absolutely preposterous.

Yea he has a very solid 400m background, yea he doesn't train for it, yea he only runs it early in the season blah blah blah. Still, if Bolt was a 43 mid/low type runner, I feel like we would have seen more by now. There were many reasons why he should have not run 9.7 at the Jamaican Inite back in 08, but if given the opportunity, talent will show and prove.

I seriously don't think Bolt could smack the likes of James, Merritt, or a Borlee in a Semifinal.

Combine that with the amount of PAIN PAIN PAIN involved with running the 1 lap, we will never see him do it

[tracknut2012]

Bolt has repeatedly said that he has no interest in running the 400.

He has said that he wants to repeat the 100/200m double in Rio. No story here.

[MDelano]

The title of the story, "Bolt eyes 400, LJ" is incorrect.
Read the article. His coach want him to run the 400, not Bolt himself.

[k3ck3c]

Bolt is the best on 100m, is tall, so would be perfect for the pole vault!

Yes, he has a lot of technique to learn, and as pole vault involves risks, I do not think he will give it a try.

[gibson]

a crazy thing for bolt to do : the decathlon.
that is a fun speculation, no?

the argument that bolt can't or won't run the 400m is crushed here right now... read on.

http://www.jockbio.com/Bios/Bolt/Bolt_bio.html

Usain smashed CARIFTA’s championship records in the 200 meters and 400 meters. He then bettered those marks at the 2002 Central American and Caribbean Junior Championships. At the 2002 World Junior Championships in Kingston, Usain lowered his personal-best 200 time to 20.61 seconds, becoming history’s youngest world junior champion in that event. He was also part of teams that set national records in the 4 x 100 and 4 x 400 relays.

At the Pan-American Junior Championships, he tied the world junior record of 20.13 in the 200, equaling the mark set by Roy Martin. In his final meet as a high schooler, he shattered the national prep marks for the 200 and 400 by a half-second and second, respectively.

i think that since bolt has returned to his near peak self, he'll milk it.
meaning that he'll use this year's results as momentum for next year, and if all goes very well, try and take records to sub 9.5 and 19.0.

if it appears that he's not going to improve further, he'll give the 400 a go. now if the training goes well and there are no injuries, he'll want to go 44 low at home before he'd take on a james.

for the long jump, to me it seems like an accident waiting to happen...

[shivfan]

I think there will be a lot of speculation, but in the end, Bolt will stick to the 100-200 double....

[gibson]

I think there will be a lot of speculation, but in the end, Bolt will stick to the 100-200 double....

the betting man should go with your analysis.
bolt however will ditch the double if he knows he won't win.

[Marlow]

I think there will be a lot of speculation, but in the end, Bolt will stick to the 100-200 double....

the betting man should go with your analysis.
bolt however will ditch the double if he knows he won't win.

I think he will indeed try dabbling with the 400 in the next couple of years, but realize that the commitment exceeds his desire to extend his empire further and end up ONLY in the 100, leaving the 200 for Blake.

[gh]

Let's just say that the Bolt camp has mastered the art of staying in the headlines.

[Conor Dary]

I was wondering what this 400, LJ nonsense was about, and yes that explains it.

[rainy.here]

Let's just say that the Bolt camp has mastered the art of staying in the headlines.

This was exactly my thought too.

[einnod23]

Prediction: Bolt will "flirt" with some 400s in 2014, a non-championship year! (If you consider the CWG's "non-champs"!)

[doug5321]

if bolt agreed to race kirani james in one of the remaining big meets (zurich they have the money to make the matchup reality) bolt would beat james and if he does not break it he will be very close to michael johnsons record.

i am talking about NOW, if bolt trained for the 400 specifically he would regularly run sub 43.

bolt is a ridiculous off the charts talent, kirani james is incredibly talented but not as much as bolt.

[zidan]

He may or may not do it, but for me there are three unfinished business in the sprints:
(1) Win another world title at 100m
(2) Press the dial to 9.4 in the 100m
(3) Enter the realms of impossibilty with a sub 19 in the 200m
Do those then he can ride off in the sunset and start a family, hence getting some Bolt specimens off and running. Literally!

[knockout]

I am with GH (and others) on this one!! I am pretty sure I read the same headline after Beijing or Berlin! Ie Bolt would run 400m in London and like to try the LJ

[sprintzfan]

...I think he will indeed try dabbling with the 400 in the next couple of years, but realize that the commitment exceeds his desire to extend his empire further and end up ONLY in the 100, leaving the 200 for Blake.

From what I heard Michael Johnson say on BBC during the Olympics, Bolt already "realizes" that he doesn't have the commitment. Johnson said Bolt told him flat out, that he "doesn't like to work that hard." Therefore no focus on the 400 for Bolt, according to Johnson.

[mal]

He won't be keen on any event where you start on the finish line and have to run the long way round to get back.

And why would he? I was a 400 m runner and was relieved when I finally 'retired'.

[shivfan]

I think there will be a lot of speculation, but in the end, Bolt will stick to the 100-200 double....

the betting man should go with your analysis.
bolt however will ditch the double if he knows he won't win.

I think he will indeed try dabbling with the 400 in the next couple of years, but realize that the commitment exceeds his desire to extend his empire further and end up ONLY in the 100, leaving the 200 for Blake.

"To do the three [sprints], that is the focus. I don't want to try any different events at Rio," he said. "I will just defend my titles to show the world there's a possibility I can do it again."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/athletics/19872027

That should hopefully end any speculation that Bolt will try either the 400m or the long jump in the lead-up to Rio....

He seems to have the plan to defend his 100-200-sprint relay titles, and it remains to be seen if he gives up one or the other as Blake gets better.

[Marlow]

Now that it's clear that Bolt will stick to the 100/200 (tho I agree with a poster above that by 2016 Blake may well be the favorite). BUT, here's to say that Bolt COULD win the 400 if he WANTED to, but, of course, he does NOT want to, so that's the end of that (not unlike the Wariner analogy).

[tandfman]

I'm a bit disappointed that he's not going to do the 400 seriously. I can understand his decision. The 400 is painful, and the long jump is risky. And he's very successful at what he's been doing. Why change?

There's also the "legend" issue. He uses that word all the time. I suspect he thinks that he will be more legendary if he wind the Olympic 100 and 200 for the third straight time than if he changes events and wins the 400, regardless of what else he also wins. And I think he may be right.

[Marlow]

There's also the "legend" issue. He uses that word all the time. I suspect he thinks that he will be more legendary if he wind the Olympic 100 and 200 for the third straight time than if he changes events and wins the 400, regardless of what else he also wins. And I think he may be right.

Perhaps to the layman. I would, for one, be MORE impressed with a 400 Gold in Rio.

[preston]

There's also the "legend" issue. He uses that word all the time. I suspect he thinks that he will be more legendary if he wind the Olympic 100 and 200 for the third straight time than if he changes events and wins the 400, regardless of what else he also wins. And I think he may be right.

Perhaps to the layman. I would, for one, be MORE impressed with a 400 Gold in Rio.

Surprise! We don't agree again, Marlow. I don't consider myself a layman and I think the triple in Rio would be more awe-inspiring than a single 400m. In fact, if Tyson Gay said that he was going for the 400m in Rio, I would immediately make him my favorite for gold; I just don't think a 100m sprinter moving up is that big of a deal. And, when you make him the 200m WR holder, it becomes even less impressive to me.

But, the real reason I hope that Bolt never runs the 400m is that any performance above 42.50 would be a complete disappointment to me. And, he's just not trying to be THAT kind of legend; not at 400m.

[Conor Dary]

I'm a bit disappointed that he's not going to do the 400 seriously. I can understand his decision. The 400 is painful, and the long jump is risky. And he's very successful at what he's been doing. Why change?

There's also the "legend" issue. He uses that word all the time. I suspect he thinks that he will be more legendary if he wind the Olympic 100 and 200 for the third straight time than if he changes events and wins the 400, regardless of what else he also wins. And I think he may be right.

I just can't see UB doing the 400. And the LJ even less. How many great 100 meter runners ever moved up to the 400? Or into the LJ? And I doubt he would break the WR in either one. And yes winning the 100,200 3 straight would be something.

[shivfan]

I think it's also important to remember that Bolt suffers from scoliosis, which I believe is curvature of the spine. As a result, he tends to be injury prone, something that affected him when he was being coached in the 400m by Junior Bennett. That was one of the reasons he preferred to switch to Glen Mills....

[tandfman]

There's a story in the front page headline section (scroll down) that suggests that Bert Cameron's departure from the Racers Club and Glen Mills's taking over the 400 coaching for the club may relate to Bolt's plans to run the 400. The article said it was unclear what was cause and what was effect.

[Marlow]

I think the triple in Rio would be more awe-inspiring than a single 400m.

But aren't you dying for Bolt to nuke the 400 record down into the 42s?
A win in the 400 is New Territory. The 100/200 double is common; excelling ALSO in the 400 is not.
Yes, another 100/200 double would be epic, but yes, I'd much rather see a 400 Gold out of him, because I really do think he's got a 42 in him (with proper motivation).
He'd be a Legend either way, but I want it with the versatility that the 400 would confer upon him. (I really don't think he could LJ 29' even if he really wanted to).
[Regardless - I do see your point and can't refute it.]

P.S. If he did the 400, I'm sure it would still be part of a Triple (Gold): 400, 4x1, 4x4.

[lonewolf]

Yep, if Bolt wants to secure his legend as sprint GOAT, he needs to act 400 WR to his resume.
Then he can concentrate on the LJ where, I believe, he has the tools to go 29.

[mump boy]

I'll be REALLY disappointed of he doesn't give another event a go. I don't understand why you wouldn't want to see your potential in a range of events.

Next year would be the perfect time and then if it doesn't go well back to sprints for 15/16

[eldanielfire]

Even though we would love to see Bolt DESTROY the 400m record his body makes it a great risk. Bolt felt in pain enough (or the strain at least) doing the 200m in London and wasn't willing to do a WR run which he stated he could have. The 400m could leave Bolt at a high risk of serious injuries and could ruin his further WR potential in all of the Sprints.

On the other hand why not let Yohan Blake go for it. In RIo a 29 Year old Bolt (injury pending) would still be in his peak period. I'd think it would be Bolt Gold and Blake Silver again. If Blake wants Gold the 400m might be a better bet for him if he could run it.

[Marlow]

If Blake wants Gold the 400m might be a better bet for him if he could run it.

He doesn't 'look' it (to me), but who knows?!

[gibson]

upon reflection,

bolt will run the 100 and 200 for the next couple of years.
it is about money, sponsors and ease of success, plus bolt's baby is the 200.
if he's getting beat regularly in the 100 two years from now, he'll look at the 200 400 double.
if that is possible with the OG schedule. the training for the 400 will allow a 9.5 man to do this. and he'll run the relay/s.

it all works for the GOAT.