Sick and tired of reading shallow previews of the men’s 100 meters at the Beijing Olympics, where the only three names mentioned are “Bolt, Powell, and Gay”?
Well I’m here to let you know that there will actually be more than three people involved in the race in Beijing, even if the aforementioned trio will most probably end up sweeping the medals.
Before I do that however, I should probably give my prediction on which of the “Big Three” will be crowned the World’s Fastest Man.
1st: Usain Bolt (Jamaica) – Anyone who’s seen Bolt’s world-record performance of 9.72 in New York where he completely blitzed the world champion Tyson Gay would find it hard to go past the young Jamaican for the gold medal.
Despite his recent loss to Asafa Powell in Stockholm, Bolt would have to have another horrendous start if he were to lose at the Olympics.
The only other potential roadblock standing between Bolt and the gold is his coach, who still is yet to decide whether he will actually contest the 100 meters at Beijing or simply focus solely on the 200. For everyone’s sake, let’s hope that Bolt is permitted to run.
2nd: Asafa Powell (Jamaica) – I originally had Tyson Gay in this position. However, a combination of Gay’s injury sustained at the US Olympic Trials and Powell’s seemingly great form over the last week has swayed me to believe that Powell will take the silver medal.
His victory over Bolt in 9.88 seconds, followed by a run of 9.94 seconds to take first in London indicates that Powell is over his recent spat of injuries and is ready to peak at the Olympic Games.
His history of underperforming at major meets (fifth at the 2004 Olympics and third at the 2007 World Championships), makes it difficult for me to reconcile that Powell will be physically or mentally capable of outrunning Bolt in the final.
3rd: Tyson Gay (USA) – It seems that no one will know just how serious the injury that Tyson Gay obtained at the US Olympic Trials is until he steps foot onto the track in Beijing in two weeks time.
If Gay is fully fit and in peak form in the final (like he was when he ran 9.77 and a windy 9.68 at the US Trials), he is clearly capable of beating Powell home, and his experience in winning major titles could even perhaps give Gay the edge over Usain Bolt.
However, Gay’s lack of preparation for the Games, whereby he will not compete at any meet before the heats of the 100 meters, will make it difficult for him to come to the Olympics in peak form, and ultimately could cost him a chance at the gold medal.
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6 comments Last one added 11 months ago — Leave a Comment
Una Altuna 11 months ago
I think your seriously wrong about Walter Dix especially putting him behind Richard Thompson thats just retarded but Walts always the under dog no matter how many times he proves his speed so we Will definitely see just what he can do.
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Matt Stevens 11 months ago
Thompson beat Dix comfortably in the NCAA Championships and dominated for the rest of the season. He also has a faster season's best time than Dix - 9.93 to 9.96, and their personal best times are the same. I think Dix is a great runner too but to say putting him behind Thompson is retarded is a bit questionable considering they are both around the same standard overall and Thompson has been better this year.
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Micaela Hmmm 11 months ago
Im wit Una 1000 percent!!
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Micaela Hmmm 11 months ago
But you have to remeber Dix was just recovering from a hamstring injury at the NCAA'S and he was running on about a month of practice. His season has been injury and sickness plagued. And Walter hasnt had any professional races yet except for the olympic trials where he ran 9.8 even though the wind was illegal so Walters back to his old sub 10 self, back to when he dominated the collegiate field that included Richard Thompson. He will beat Richard Thompson.
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Sol Cameron 11 months ago
I think you're judging too few of the athletes based on their experience. Burns has ran at three World Championships and made the 100m final at the last two. He's won events against some of the premier opposition on the European circuit this yr while finishing second only to Powell in a talented field. He's peaking at the right time and has a lot of experience so I would place him no lower than 6th. Ahead of him in 4th and 5th is first Darrel Brown who was as prodigious a teenage sprinter as Bolt (youngest male track medalist at a World's event (4X100m at 16), youngest individual male track medalist at a World's (100m at 18) current joint world junior and former world youth record holder). His form didn't simply dip, he's suffered an injury plagued career that has denied him a career as undoubtedly one of the best sprinters of his generation; still, after Bolt and Powell, he has the most talent in this field (whether u choose to believe that or not) and is one of the more experienced athletes on the list also. That's not too say he can crack the top 3 but if he makes it to the final he can absolutely produce something special and push the big boys. I place Dix in 5th only because he has run proven times. I believe Burns will peak and may be able to take him but Burns has a knack for underachieving, the fact that he has an impressive youth resume as well but is only now beginning to justify his talent at 25 leaves me a little in doubt. I would agree that Thompson is a great sprinter but I believe he is too inexperienced and has shown this with the multitude of races he's ran this yr. He's already peaked for the season and even if he manages to not run the rounds to hard and qualify for the final he may be too burnt out to make a tru impact. He's definitely a world top 8 sprinter, just a little wet behind the ears. I hav no beef wit Atkins being there imo over Thompson but u can't possibly be serious in choosing this unproven and inexperienced Norwegian guy who doesn't even look like he has the strength to last the rounds over the talent and experience of Michale Frater!?. That's my take at least.
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Matt Stevens 11 months ago
Cheers for the comment you're obviously very knowledgeable on track and field.
I seriously considered both Burns and Frater for the Final, and they would've been the next two in. They seem to be peaking at the right time, both running season bests in the past week, and in some cases have beaten a number of people i tipped to make the Final.
Predicting Ndure for the Final was a bit of a risk, I just see him having more potential than Frater, who is very consistent but will have to give his absolute best performance if he is to run under 10 seconds. In saying that, I wouldn't be surprised at all if Frater made the Final ahead of Ndure. I don't claim to be psychic, so would not be surprised to see my predictions proved wrong.
The same goes for Burns. He is a great chance to make it, but I just don't see him as being as consistently fast as some of the other. Like you said, he tends to underachieve. As I have said though, if he runs at his peak he will most likely make the Final.
I agree with you about Brown. At top form he is capable of perhaps even challenging for a medal. Whether he is able to replicate the success from his early years will determine whether this will come to fruition. I'm guessing you've seen the final of his national champs where he was leading Thompson and Burns at the halfway mark before tripping over and falling into Thompson's lane. Burns won that race in 10.01, however it looked like Brown and Thompson were on track to run much faster than that.
In terms of Thompson, I think he is just flat out a better runner than both Burns and Frater when all are at peak form. There is a query over whether he has peaked too early with his heavy schedule, but I'll give him the benefit of the doubt. If I was tipping solely on experience, then Obikwelu and Collins would be sure bets for the Final, however experience does not always overcome quality.
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