Usain Bolt Stuns the World in the Greatest Performance Ever

Michael who?

That must be the questioning floating around the press boxes of Beijing.

The swimming is not even over yet, but already Phelps' time in the spotlight has gone—and he hasn’t even completed his fabled eight-medal haul.

But, in just 9.69 seconds, Usain Bolt ensured that the 2008 Beijing Olympics would be remembered, above all else, for his historic sprinting performance.

Carl Lewis, Linford Christie, Maurice Greene, Jesse Owens, even a drug-riddled Ben Johnston—no sprinter in history had gone sub-9.70s.

Yet Bolt did it today, and seemingly without effort.

Yards clear of the field by 60 meters, the Jamaican proceeded to look around at his opponents—searching desperately for some form of challenge.

None was forthcoming.

Asafa Powell, the man most expected to provide a threat, had faded away to finish fifth.

Eventually, Richard Thompson of Trinidad and Tobago and Walter Dix of the USA took the other available medals—but neither was remotely near the "Lightning" Bolt.

After 80 meters, with victory assured, Bolt opened his arms, slapped his chest, and simply glided across the finishing line.

Having just seen all this, his time of 9.69s seemed beyond belief.

Michael Johnson, the former 200m and 400m Olympic champion, was almost speechless:

"I couldn’t believe he could shut down, with 10 meters to go, and still set the world record. In an Olympic final," he exclaimed. "What he just did was amazing!"

A complete showman, the Jamaican had just delivered the most electrifying performance in the history of sport.

Despite his exuberant victory celebrations (the distinctive sounds of Jamaican reggaeton filled the Bird's Nest in a fitting tribute), the man himself was rather nonchalant when questioned about his achievements.

"I came here just to win, and I did that. I hope my country are proud," he told the BBC. "I did not even know I had done the world record, until my victory lap!"

He went to add that the only thing that mattered to him was the victory, and that he was just delighted to be an Olympic champion.

But the world record will be more than just a bonus.

That world record has had a sacred history. Over the years it has frequently been broken, by many different athletes.

But while many of the illustrious names mentioned earlier have held the record, they never held it for too long.

Yet, having become the first man to (legally) go sub-9.7s, there is surely no other athlete who will take the 100-metre record from Bolt—for at least the next 20 years.

Even more amazingly, it is clear Bolt could certainly go a lot faster.

If he gets the right conditions, the right track and, (most improbably) actually sprints for the whole 100 meters, Bolt certainly has the potential to record a time in the 9.5s vicinity.

Such a figure is almost beyond human comprehension.

But the Jamaican has already proven that he is anything but ordinary, and his feats are anything but understandable.

A few weeks ago, I wrote an article arguing that the 100 meters was the only Olympic event that matters.

Over the past week, the feats of athletes like Michael Phelps, Nastia Lukin, and Yang Wei have done a lot to prove that this was not necessarily the case.

But, in barely 30 strides, Bolt decisively demonstrated that no other Olympic event has quite the international impact.

Few corners of the planet will not now be aware of his efforts. Few kids around the world will not be running down the street, envisaging themselves as their 6-foot-5 idol.

Kids who had only just got into the pool—dreaming of emulating Phelps—will be getting out in search of a track.

These days, it is rare that a sporting event actually lives up to its hype. While the event's two other main protagonists—Tyson Gay and Asafa Powell—failed to ensure a dramatic finish, Bolt’s antics ensured that the race did all that was expected, and more.

Never the one for skin-tight race suits, mental coaches, and strict warm-up regimes, Bolt is a throwback to a bygone era—an era where sport was played purely for the joy of competition.

It is clear Bolt simply loves what he does. It is also clear that he has not forgotten where he comes from.

The new Olympic champion is still just that gangly boy from Trelawny, Jamaica.

Now, however, he is also the hero for millions, possibly billions, around the globe.

With Phelps excelling in the pool, Lukin in the gymnasium, and a whole host of other (primarily Chinese) athletes producing stunning achievements across Beijing, these Olympics have been nothing short of sensational.

They have helped catapult athletics back amongst the most prestigious disciplines in sporting pursuit.

Bolt, however, has done more than anyone to boost athletics’ burgeoning reputation. Chad Johnson might think he can outswim Phelps, but he surely even he can’t outsprint Usain Bolt.

No man can.

At this point, you imagine no one ever will. But now it is for certain—a lot of youngsters are going to want to try.

Most importantly, however, the question on everyone’s lips is no longer, "Will Phelps win eight golds?"

Bolt has ensured that it is much simpler, and much more significant, than that.

"Have we just witnessed the greatest sporting performance ever?"

I know my answer.