'I Blew the World's Mind'

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Day 13: Track and Field

Post reporter Barry Svrluga discusses Usain Bolt's second world-record performance -- a victory in the men's 200 meters -- from the Olympic track and field venue in Beijing.

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Then, turning sincere, which Bolt endearingly still can do in an instant, he said: "I'm looking forward to going to bed, waking up and realizing I'm a double gold medalist. . . . It's a great feeling. I'm just really happy. . . . I've been dreaming [of breaking the 200-meter record] since I was yea-high."

And he truly did look happy, like few of us ever can, even when we have reasons.

"To tell you the truth, I just want to chill out. I feel like being in sandals and taking a weekend, go to the quarry," Bolt said. "But I have to refocus again for the [4x100] relay."

So we will get to see him one more time in this Olympics and appreciate one of the greatest athletes who ever has lived, even though few outside the track world even knew him a week ago. Nine men have won both the 100 and 200 meters in the same Olympics, but none until Bolt smashed both world records, much less did it in such devastating style -- beating his personal best by (gulp) .37 of a second and topping the next-best time of (disqualified) Churandy Martina by .82 of second, or almost seven meters.

On top of that, Bolt ran a 9.69 in the 100 while holding his hands at his side for the last seven strides, looking at the crowd watching him and smacking his hand to his chest before he crossed the finish line.

The world of track is numb with the thought of what Bolt may do.

"He's five to seven years from his prime. If he stays healthy, focused and motivated, we're going to see some of the most incredible things we've ever seen in sports," said legendary hurdler Renaldo Nehemiah, who worked with Johnson when he set his world marks in the 400 and, until now, the 200. "Bolt's upside is untapped."

In theory, could he run the 400 meters, too? In victory, Bolt brought that subject up himself, adding "not soon."

"I could see him running the 800 meters in six, seven years," Nehemiah said, shaking his head. "Fame is very fleeting if you believe your own print. Tomorrow isn't promised to athletes. But what we saw tonight, it was like Usain said, 'Let me see what I can do here if I really try.' "

Like many in track, Nehemiah "felt personally saddened" that Bolt threw away the chance to run 9.60 or 9.62 in the 100 meters, just for the sake of showmanship. "But this time, he showed us what he could do," Nehemiah said.

Perhaps it's actually better this way. Now Bolt has shown us both his boyish, goofy personality and his talent.

"I've been saying all season that [the record in] the 200 means a lot more to me than the 100. I already had that record," Bolt said. "I knew I could go this fast. I told myself, 'If I'm going to get the world record, I'm going to get it here because this track is fast.' "