Bolt goes for another world record today in 200-meter final

By HOWARD FENDRICH | The Associated Press • Published August 20, 2008

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BEIJING — It must be pretty discouraging to race Usain Bolt.

Not only are you likely to lose — he’ll beat you without even trying.

Look, for example, at the way Bolt won his 200-meter semifinal Tuesday night at the Beijing Games, the latest step in a bid to become the first man since Carl Lewis in 1984 to sweep the Olympic sprint titles.

The Jamaican, who broke his own world record while winning the 100 gold medal in 9.69 seconds last weekend, eased up in the middle of the race Tuesday, figuring he was comfortably ahead and easily on his way to earning a berth in the final.

As he slowed, he realized Shawn Crawford of the United States was coming at full speed, overtaking Bolt in an adjacent lane. So Bolt simply shifted gears and passed Crawford to cross the finish line first.

Essentially, a taking-it-easy, energy-conserving Bolt was better than a seemingly going-all-out Crawford — who, do not forget, is the defending Olympic champion in the 200.

Asked about his gait, Bolt said: “I wouldn’t say 'jogging.’ I’m just trying to get through to the next round. I didn’t know if he was running. I just wanted to make sure I was in good position. I was looking at Crawford, and then I decided to look at the board to see where everybody else was.”

Bolt spends a lot of time checking out the overhead video screens at the Bird’s Nest. Usually, though, he’s checking out himself.

Before the start of Bolt’s 200 semifinal, the stadium announcer read off the names of the entrants, pausing to mention the resume highlights of some. When it was Bolt’s turn, this is what came over the speakers: “In Lane 6, a man who needs no introduction.”

Hearing his cue, Bolt went into a prerace routine that would make a professional wrestler proud, keeping a careful watch on those video screens.

He rubbed his hands over his short hair, pretending to smooth down a coif, then drew his fingers across his eyebrows, all part of his look-at-me message.

He pointed his index fingers at himself on those screens, then used his hands to form a frame around the “Jamaica” written on his shirt.