Usain again

So is Usain Bolt the greatest sprinter ever?

After all, he just added the 200 meter gold medal to the one he took for 100 meters. And he set world records in both events, something never done before.

Answer: Maybe.

The only reason that is not a resounding “yes!” is the way he won his first gold, the one for 100 meters.

As I blogged before, he coasted the last 10 meters (some say 20 meters) when it was clear that he was going to win.

Despite that showboating, he still broke his own world record and got below the 9.7-second barrier for the first time in history. His final time was 9.69 … but it could have much lower if had run all out! He might have broken the 9.6-second barrier, something many experts said was not possible.

Bolt must have heard the critics after his 100 meter performance. For the 200 meter race, he never let up. He was straining all the way.

And that, of course, is exactly how you’re supposed to run a sprint.

Best ever?

I’ll say yes when he breaks the 9.6-second barrier in the 100 meters, and when he breaks the 19-second barrier in the 200. (His gold medal time Wednesday was 19.3 seconds.)

You know what? I think he will.