1. Usain Bolt Vs Justin Gatlin
The Olympics encompass so many sporting events, but men’s 100m is one showpiece anybody watching the Games wouldn’t want to miss for anything in the world. Take a 10-second hiatus and you could miss all the action and buzz this particular event generates.
The athlete who wins the men’s 100m GOLD at the Olympics gains global recognition and goes on to enter sporting history, with echoes of that feat reverberating for many years to come.
Since the era of Carl Lewis and Ben Johnson, we haven’t really witnessed the kind of 100m rivalry that Usain Bolt and Justin Gatlin are serving the world at the moment.
Bolt is gunning for an unprecedented triple-GOLD in the 100m, and no matter how confident the Jamaican might be, introspectively he knows that he faces the biggest challenge of his career.
At last year’s World Championships when Bolt narrowly defeated Gatlin by one hundredth of a second, it was mainly because the pressure got to Gatlin and he started floundering in the last 5m despite being in the lead .
Bolt crossed the line in 9.79s, and Gatlin 2nd in 9.80s, once again responding at the biggest stage and further underlining his legendary status. However he will have to redouble his efforts if he plans to secure the double over the American once again.
Just like last year, Gatlin is the top ranked athlete in the 100m at the moment, and he will be going to the Olympics with a World Lead (WL) of 9.80s. In fact he holds the Top 2 fastest times, clocking 9.83s at the US National Trials in July.
Bolt on his part has gone under 10s just twice this year, first at the World Challenge in Ostrava where he won with a mark of 9.98s, and weeks later at an Invitational in his country winning in 9.88s. Let’s also add that Gatlin has gone under 10s on five different occasions this year.
The rivalry has been heated up after Bolt said in London that he felt “disrespected by Gatlin”, following the comments made by the American on Bolt not running the 100m final at the Jamaican Trials because of a hamstring injury. Bolt’s reply is something that unearthed his strong desire to win the triple-triple, and he further added that he has never been afraid of competitions. True to his words, he looks confident and was even amongst the first to arrive in Brazil.
While Bolt has been smiling for the cameras, generating the buzz and attention his status draws, Gatlin has somehow been on a low-key, not giving away much.
It’s glaring that both athletes will put up a big spectacle that will be talked about for ages. Trust Bolt to entertain the world with his pre-race theatrics: “I’m definitely a sprinter first, but I like to entertain because that’s what people come for. I try to entertain and make it different”, Bolt said during his press conference on Monday.
On what to expect when he faces Gatlin “I never pick out one person, it’s always about those eight people beside me on the day,” Bolt added.
Gatlin on his part said he has learned his lesson from last year: “One lesson I learned, especially after Beijing last year, is to stay within myself,” said Gatlin. “The excitement is for the fans and the media, but for me I just have to worry about executing my race in my lane. I got sucked in too much last year, into the hype,” he added.
No doubt it will still be these two vying for the 200m, and anyone who loses the 100m would seek for redemption in the other, but with both of them running just one sub 20s apiece this year 19.89s (Bolt, London Diamond League) 19.75s (Gatlin, US Trials), it’s not difficult seeing that their main interest lies in the 100m.
Gatlin won the Olympics 100m GOLD in 2004, with Bolt winning it successively in 2008 and 2012. Four years on it will still be either of them winning it, but we are not certain who would.
However one thing is certain: we will be treated to one of the best men’s 100m races of all time. Maybe Bolt’s Olympic Record of 9.63s might be toppled, and as many who would be paying over a $1,000 for choice-seats will definitely be getting value for money.
Any one of them who crosses the line first will be heading straight to sporting immortality.
