¶2012 OG: m200–Usain Bolt 19.32 repeats OG gold

[dj]

T&FN formchart advancers to final

1. Usain Bolt (Jamaica)
2. Yohan Blake (Jamaica)
3. Wallace Spearmon (USA)
4. Christophe Lemaitre (France)
5. Churandy Martina (Netherlands)
6. Warren Weir (Jamaica)
7. Maurice Mitchell (USA)
8. Jaysuma Saidy Ndure (Norway)
9. Rondell Sorrillo (Trinidad)
10. Michael Mathieu (Bahamas)

Also Advancing to Final
Anaso Jobodwana (South Africa)
Alex Quinonez (Ecuador)

[EPelle]

Olympic Record: 19,30 (-0,9), Usain Bolt, JAM, Beijing 2008

2008 Results: G-Usain Bolt, JAM, 19,30WR (-0,9); S-Shawn Crawford, USA, 19,96; B-Walter Dix, USA, 19,98
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[Marlow]

I think Blake's younger legs will prevail (but if Bolt runs 18.99, that will also not surprise me).

[Jackaloupe]

And Yohan can get even closer to 19-flat! His start in that 19.36 was horrendous, losing a good meter or so right off, then maybe a bit more before he got going. And he's likely to be in even better shape (and level of development, at 22) by now. It's gonna be a burner all the way thru, maybe even more interesting to watch (and rewatch) than the 100m. Spearmon will need a perfect race to even stay in it.

[110hedgeNYC]

mark my words: the weather is going to be too cold for records in the sprints. don't even think about times. it's going to be all about head to head battles.

second prediction: the 3 on the podium in the 200 will Bolt, Blake and Lemaitre.

The 200 should be a great battle though 1 - 6, as you've got Spearman, the Norwegian, the 3rd Jamaican, Martina, and who knows who else will surprise.

[fromage]

mark my words: the weather is going to be too cold for records in the sprints. don't even think about times. it's going to be all about head to head battles.

second prediction: the 3 on the podium in the 200 will Bolt, Blake and Lemaitre.

The 200 should be a great battle though 1 - 6, as you've got Spearman, the Norwegian, the 3rd Jamaican, Martina, and who knows who else will surprise.

Ah! some sense at last; the weather is going to affect adversely the sprints, and the time of the evening when the finals will be held will be in the region 14 to 17 degrees. Forget the times gents and think head to heads.

We had our summer a week before the Olympics.

[TrainerPhil]

mark my words: the weather is going to be too cold for records in the sprints. don't even think about times. it's going to be all about head to head battles.

second prediction: the 3 on the podium in the 200 will Bolt, Blake and Lemaitre.

The 200 should be a great battle though 1 - 6, as you've got Spearman, the Norwegian, the 3rd Jamaican, Martina, and who knows who else will surprise.

The 4x100 men's record could go, but I agree that the world records in the other sprinting events will probably stand. And I also agree with your top 3.

[ATK]

Depending on whats going on with Bolt, and how he does in the 100, I'm predicting he gets silver, close to whoever gets bronze Probably Spearmon, but Martina and CL are hot. Don't forget Martina was DQ'ed after running a 19.8 in Beijing.

Blake should be clear though.

[Pelpa]

Depending on whats going on with Bolt, .

reports from his doctors and coach are that he's fit as a fiddle....could you explain your meaning of "depending on what's going on with Bolt" that could contribute to him battling for third in his pet event.

as for what happens in the 100, that we can't speak much about as it hasn't happened as yet.

[j-a-m]

mark my words: the weather is going to be too cold for records in the sprints. don't even think about times. it's going to be all about head to head battles.

Yeah, even if Bolt shows up in WR shape, the conditions will probably prevent an actual WR.

[Jackaloupe]

I know this Thread is not about us and the solidity of our predictions, but in pointing out how much closer Yohan Blake could get to 19-flat, I didn't mean to suggest that it would happen in London; only that his remarkable breakthrough race couldn've easily been even faster. In fact, I emphasized what a "burner" it would be, with Spearmon having a tough time keeping up with the Jamaicans.

[Per Andersen]

Blake's second fastest 200 is a 19.78 from 2010. It's far from clear to me that he can run a sub 19.5 on a non Brussels track. In addition to the track configuration in Brussels he ran in lane 7 and had a neat little wind.
I'll go with Bolt, Blake and Lemaitre in that order.

[ATK]

Depending on whats going on with Bolt, .

reports from his doctors and coach are that he's fit as a fiddle....could you explain your meaning of "depending on what's going on with Bolt" that could contribute to him battling for third in his pet event.

as for what happens in the 100, that we can't speak much about as it hasn't happened as yet.

I mean depending on how healthy/fit he is. I don't know about you, but I take his own doctors, agent, and coaches words with a grain of salt. Word of mouth really does not mean much since its coming from his own support team.. Especially since they are keeping his workouts in private. Technically, he is still injured, he hasn't shown anything to prove he is not.

[Pelpa]

[I mean depending on how healthy/fit he is.

well this is the case for all athletes atthese games...

[I don't know about you, but I take his own doctors, agent, and coaches words with a grain of salt.

Interesting...so if they were to agree to say the contrary and rule by their expert training that he's unfit, do I also take that with a grain of salt or sugar or bitter aloe?

Word of mouth really does not mean much since its coming from his own support team.. Especially since they are keeping his workouts in private. Technically, he is still injured, he hasn't shown anything to prove he is not.

So how else should they convey their expert ruling, flip charts and publish his medical records for you to verify? Last I checked there was not a Bolt independent fitness team to test and verify what the JAAA sanctions to be so...and an MBBA trounces a T&F avatar subscription.

Technically, he is still injured, he hasn't shown anything to prove he is not

So, I take it that this is not "word of mouth" and you have been a medical doctor, phsio-therapist and IAAF certified coach who veirified this to be so.

are you sure you are not taking this with a sip of bitter aloe?

[ATK]

Your going over board man. Bolt was injured at JA trials, his injury escalated and caused him to pull out of Monaco. Before the Monaco race it was announced that he was fully recovered and healthy. But he still did not run at any meets for whatever the reason may be. Considering its the Olympics, the last thing his team would be saying is that he is not ready to go, which is why in this situation I have no reason to believe they are correct, until we see him on the track.

I'm basing my predictions based off how Bolts season has unfolded. He ended up getting injured and "under performing" at trials. While he skips out on meets and most likely missed some training, while his peers, (Blake CL, Martina, Spearmon) showed they are healthy, and some of them dropped great times.

Yea Bolt is Bolt, but I think he gets to much credit for what he has done in the past and not what is happening now. If he is healthy, yes he will probably walk away with the 200, and he very well may be healthy. But unfortunately the public does not know that. We know that he ended his regular season in injury, and is now entering the games with question marks.

[j-a-m]

That track's so fast, WR for Bolt seems a realistic possibility now.

[TrainerPhil]

Yea Bolt is Bolt, but I think he gets to much credit for what he has done in the past and not what is happening now. If he is healthy, yes he will probably walk away with the 200, and he very well may be healthy. But unfortunately the public does not know that. We know that he ended his regular season in injury, and is now entering the games with question marks.

If there is one athlete on this planet that we should never doubt, it's Bolt. This is Usain Bolt. You cannot forget what he has done in the past, and as the case in the last 3 major championships, his readiness has been severely underrated. We'll know shortly just how ready he is. But, after everything we have seen from him are you prepared to bet against him?

[Pelpa]

Yea Bolt is Bolt, but I think he gets to much credit for what he has done in the past and not what is happening now. If he is healthy, yes he will probably walk away with the 200, and he very well may be healthy. But unfortunately the public does not know that. We know that he ended his regular season in injury, and is now entering the games with question marks.

So what's the green-eye issue with that? Michael Jordan will tell you that no athlete will be their best on every occasion, hence you highlight their superlative performances.

You keep asking about his fitness despite the coaches and the experts saying that he's fit. As gentleman I am to respect your position, but I can't if it is based on you re-thinking what the experts are saying...lay off the guy and give him due respect man.

[zidan]

That track's so fast, WR for Bolt seems a realistic possibility now.

Not certain about world records, but I think we can definately prounounce the track as fast.

[ATK]

Yea Bolt is Bolt, but I think he gets to much credit for what he has done in the past and not what is happening now. If he is healthy, yes he will probably walk away with the 200, and he very well may be healthy. But unfortunately the public does not know that. We know that he ended his regular season in injury, and is now entering the games with question marks.

So what's the green-eye issue with that? Michael Jordan will tell you that no athlete will be their best on every occasion, hence you highlight their superlative performances.

You keep asking about his fitness despite the coaches and the experts saying that he's fit. As gentleman I am to respect your position, but I can't if it is based on you re-thinking what the experts are saying...lay off the guy and give him due respect man.

I like to base my predictions and such on his actual performances not what I read from the media/press.
(I'm actually not even sure what experts your referring to. With all due respect can I have links to your sources?)

in about 7 hours well see whats up when he goes out for the 100m.
I would love for him to be fully healthy because I would like to see every athlete at their best.
But the fan in me doesn't want to see another Bolt show. It would be boring (IMO) to see him walk away from the field like normal. I want to see competition.

[Pelpa]

I base all the facts I speak of, my good poster, from the official JAAA media release to the various Jamaican media. As you may well appreciate, the JAAA management team is staffed with a team of coaches, physios, masseurs and doctors.

Your tactic is now cliche....yeah you try to coat with a layer of civility but your subjective aim to attack Bolt where you can then throw in some kind of diplomatic and technical jibe is now quite evident.

Its ok to say that he's not your favourite athlete and you want to see him beat...simple, nothing is wrong with that...that's how I feel about Kobe but he just kept on winning....darn him.

[ExCoastRanger]

I base all the facts I speak of, my good poster, from the official JAAA media release to the various Jamaican media. As you may well appreciate, the JAAA management team is staffed with a team of coaches, physios, masseurs and doctors....

What else are the marketers and managers to say as the national team heads to the Olympics other than the athletes are healthy and confident?

[proofs in the pudd'in]

Anyone think Christophe will get the Euro record? Me thinks so!

[j-a-m]

in about 7 hours well see whats up when he goes out for the 100m.

Exactly.

[ATK]

Your tactic is now cliche....yeah you try to coat with a layer of civility but your subjective aim to attack Bolt where you can then throw in some kind of diplomatic and technical jibe is now quite evident.

Its ok to say that he's not your favourite athlete and you want to see him beat...simple, nothing is wrong with that...that's how I feel about Kobe but he just kept on winning....darn him.

Yea that's wrong, I never said I want to see him beat, I said I want to see competition. Whoever wins it would be way more entertaining to see them battling it out for that win. I don't see why anyone wouldn't get more excited about that at the Olympics.

[fasttrack85]

mark my words: the weather is going to be too cold for records in the sprints. don't even think about times. it's going to be all about head to head battles.

second prediction: the 3 on the podium in the 200 will Bolt, Blake and Lemaitre.

The 200 should be a great battle though 1 - 6, as you've got Spearman, the Norwegian, the 3rd Jamaican, Martina, and who knows who else will surprise.

The 4x100 men's record could go, but I agree that the world records in the other sprinting events will probably stand. And I also agree with your top 3.

I saw alot of fast time in the womens 100 especially in the heats and semifinals. Allyson Felix and Tianna Madison, especially, had huge personal bests.

[Athletics]

Anyone think Christophe will get the Euro record? Me thinks so!

I think so too

[Marlow]

Anyone think Christophe will get the Euro record? Me thinks so!

I think so too

I have no idea which B will win, but unless there's a head-wind, it's gonna be ultra-fast, with 2 under 19.50. I see LeM next in a ER, and Spearmon having the fastest non-medal run ever (currently 19.89 in WC 09).

[EPelle]

Olympic 200m finals best marks for place:
G-19,30| S-19,68| B-19,80| 4-20,09 | 5-20,14| 6-20,21| 7-20,27| 8-20,48.

[kdicks]

If Yohan Blake runs 9.70 or better in the final, or he is within 5 meters of Bolt coming off the bend, the 200m WR is gone.

I have never seen a second 100m from any other athlete in my life. Not Michael Johnson. Not Wallace Spearmon, not Usain Bolt. Nobody.

[GDAWG]

So why did Christophe not try for the 100/200 double?

[Athletics]

So why did Christophe not try for the 100/200 double?

Has a better chance to medal at the 200m, so focused solely on it...I think it was a smart move, now he has more left in the tank, he can compete for 100m medals in Rio, he is just 22 you know

[j-a-m]

Olympic 200m finals best marks for place:
G-19,30| S-19,68| B-19,80| 4-20,09 | 5-20,14| 6-20,21| 7-20,27| 8-20,48.

Thanks; if conditions are good, quite a few of those should be surpassed.

[Pelpa]

Depending on whats going on with Bolt, and how he does in the 100, I'm predicting he gets silver, close to whoever gets bronze Probably Spearmon, but Martina and CL are hot. Don't forget Martina was DQ'ed after running a 19.8 in Beijing.

Blake should be clear though.

Tsk

[j-a-m]

If Bolt shows up the way he did today, he's gonna run away from everyone else. And I expect him show up the way he did today.