[lotuseclat79]

How Fast Can Sprinters Go?.

Well, maybe Usain Bolt was right after all. As discussed in our Physiology of Speed story, Bolt predicted he could run 100 meters in 9.54 seconds, lowering his own world record of 9.69 seconds.

Now, researchers from Tilburg University in the Netherlands say he could shave another 3/100ths of a second off and hit the tape at 9.51 seconds.

-- Tom

[lotuseclat79]

Ok, so Usain Bolt improved his 100m WR from 9.69 seconds to 9.58 seconds. That translates to 0.0011 improvement in time over 100 meters.

Let's look at Bolt's 200m WR = 19.30 (I never thought Michael Johnson's WR of 19.32 would be bested so soon after the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, GA).

So, if Bolt is able to achieve the difference between his Olympic 100 and 200 m records, i.e. for the 200 meter race that translates into 0.0965 sec/meter which means that if Bolt can improve his 200m WR by running 0.0004 sec/meter better than his now new 100m WR in the 200m race on Thursday, then he will run the 200m race in 19.08 seconds (9.69-9.58 translates into 9.65/old 200m WR-9.54/new projected 200m WR in this Thursday's race, i.e. 0.0954/meter x 200 meters or a 0.04 second improvement between his old Olympic WR from 100m-100m races or 9.69/100 meters to 9.65/200 meters.

Update: 9.69:19.30::9.58:19.08 (read as 9.69 is to 19.30 as 9.58 is to 19.08) in other words
(old Olympic 100m WR is to Old Olympic 200m WR as new 100m WR is to new 200m WR prediction)

Also, to break the 19 second barrier in the 200 meter race, Bolt (or someone else) will have to run better than 9.50 seconds per 100 meters.

-- Tom

[lotuseclat79]

Here is my take on what Bolt will have to do to break the 9.5 barrier in the 100m sprint.

His 100m WR breaks down like this:
0-20m: 2.89 sec <- this can only be slightly improved
20-40m: 1.75 sec
40-60m: 1.67 sec
60-80m: 1.61 sec
80-100m: 1.66 sec <- this needs to be greatly improved by 0.09 sec or better

All other things being equal, Bolt should be accelerating through the finish line, i.e. not looking around at his competitors or slowing down if he is ahead in the last 20m of the race - which is a flaw in his Olympic and WR races. If he is able to correct that flaw, he should be capable of running the last 20m in 1.57 sec which would make for a 9.49 WR.

I think he is capable of doing that. He mentioned 9.4, but I do not know whether he meant the full range, i.e. 9.40-9.49 or not. We will just have to wait and see what he does in the future regarding the 100m race.

If he is able to break the 9.5 sec barrier in the 100m race, then if his training is on target, we might see him break the 19.00 sec barrier in the 200m race at some point in the next couple of years.

Needless to say, I would be very astonished if he were to do that in this Thursday's race in the Berlin WC, however, I would be doing that little dance he and Powell did at the end of the 100m race!

Reference for 100m time breakdown above: What makes Bolt special.

-- Tom

[izme]

well..it depends on..if a police officer or an axe murderer is chasing me..then I'll break the sound barrier

[lotuseclat79]

The inside track on the Usain sensation by Tom Fordyce.

Ever since Sunday night, there's only one thing anyone in Berlin has been talking about: Usain Bolt.

On trains, in bars, on the streets - everyone wants to discuss that incredible race, how he did it and what he could do next.

Of course, when it comes to talking sprinting genius, some conversationalists are more interesting than others - which is why I made a beeline for four-time Olympic gold medallist and eight-time world champion Michael Johnson.

Here are his considered thoughts.

Flash: Bolt just ran a 20.08 to win his semifinal heat after shutting it down 80m short of the finish.

-- Tom

[lotuseclat79]

Usain Bolt: how far and fast can we go?.

As Usain Bolt again breaks his record, humans are fast approaching their physical limit

Three experts weigh in on the 100m race: Eriksen thinks he can do 9.55, Denny says 9.48, while Bolt thinks he may better both.

I can't wait for today's 200m race. The results should be known by 2:45PM EDT (Eastern Daylight Savings Time) - i.e. East Coast (USA) local time.

-- Tom

[lotuseclat79]

Awesome Bolt breaks 200m record (As we knew/suspected strongly that he would!)

Jamaican sprint superstar Usain Bolt claimed yet another world record as he recorded a stunning victory in the 200m final at the World Championships.

His time was 0.62 seconds ahead of second place! Yowza!!

Edit: Here is a video of that race - Usain Bolt sets world record of 19.19 seconds to win 200M at world championships from SportingNews.

-- Tom

[buffoon]

"Maybe next time I should just run the 200m or the 100m alone. My form was going backwards. I wasn't running upright. It wasn't a good race but it was a fast one."

Yes one could see that. Imagine what he could do if when he runs "style".

But the heck with style, it WAS a fast one.

[izme]

look folks..these super athletes have nothing on a woman with a credit card and unlimited spending...she'd leave footprints on their heads just to get a new pair of Prada's

[buffoon]

Originally Posted by izme

look folks..these super athletes have nothing on a woman with a credit card and unlimited spending...she'd leave footprints on their heads just to get a new pair of Prada's

Why would she be in such a hurry if she already got the credit card and the unlimited spending?

Oh, I get it. She has to outsprint the other contenders for Pradas

[lotuseclat79]

Are you the next Usain Bolt? The answer could be in your saliva.

Scientists at Newcastle University are launching a ground-breaking study to find out why some of us can run faster than others - despite doing the same amount of training.

Hmmm, we already know that people with more "fast-twitch" muscles go faster than those with more "slow-twitch" muscles. The Great North Run is 13.1 miles - so, I really don't expect them to find out much of anything at all about why some will run faster than others over that course - it's a matter of conditioning for distance racing and how much energy is left in the tank at the end.

-- Tom

[lotuseclat79]

Usain Bolt: Human, All Too Human?.

Sports writers reconsider the limits of the human body as Bolt obliterates two world records

-- Tom

[lotuseclat79]

Usain Bolt: factfile.

Jamaican Usain Bolt, who smashed the 200 metres world record to win gold at the World Championships, is already a sprinter the world will never forget. Here is a rundown of his rise to fame.

-- Tom

[lotuseclat79]

Usain Bolt in a Nutshell (Video of all WR races of Usain Bolt).

Update: Usain wants to go faster!.

-- Tom

[lotuseclat79]

Bolt may go for 4 golds at 2012 London Olympics.

Usain Bolt may go for four gold medals at the 2012 Olympics in London.

However, the world's fastest man won't be making the decision whether to attempt the feat achieved by Jesse Owens and Carl Lewis.

"For me, I don't know," Bolt said, when asked about the possibility of chasing four golds. "I always leave the decisions up to my coach."

-- Tom