On Sunday August 14, 2016 the world will stand still to witness what promises to be the biggest, if not the best men’s 100m final ever seen at the Olympics. Who crosses the line first, will it be double Olympic champion Usain Bolt or 2004 champion Justin Gatlin?
Definitely difficult to call but no doubt fans all over the globe will get value for time and money when they set out to watch this epic showdown. It’s indeed a once in a lifetime race one cannot afford to miss.
Bolt no doubt has his name already etched in the history books, but he is on the cusp of more history if he can succeed in his quest to pull off an unprecedented triple-triple, such that has never been seen in Olympics history.
However, Gatlin looks poised to put paid to that ambition, and what a story it will be if he pulls it off 12 years after he won GOLD at the Athens 2004 Games.
At last year’s World Championships when Bolt narrowly defeated Gatlin with 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 finished 2nd in 9.80s, once again responding when the ovation was loudest and further underlining his legendary status, however he will have to redouble his efforts this time around if he is to do the double over the American.
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 of 9.80s, in fact he holds the top 2 fastest times, clocking 9.83s at the US national trials in July.
We all know the story of Bolt, never running so well before a major Championships, and of course rising to the occasion. The Jamaican hasn’t really lit up the track this season with many sub 10s races.
In fact Bolt has gone under 10s just twice this year, first in Ostrava in 9.98s and weeks later at an Invitational in his country winning in 9.88s. Meanwhile Gatlin has gone under 10s on five different occasions this year.
If there is anyone that can beat Bolt and give him goosebumps, although he is trying to conceal his fears, it’s Gatlin, who seems to learnt from his mistake in Beijing last year.
Both athletes have been speaking, and Bolt was quick to downplay that the race was just about him and Gatlin. “I never pick out one person, it’s always about those eight people beside me on the day,” Bolt said.
Millions of people will be glued to their TVs and many more will part with thousands of Dollars for choice sitting positions and tickets to stadium to watch this race when it will go down. Wherever in the world you might be watching it from, be sure to be treated to an enthralling encounter that will be talked about for years to come.
Whoever wins this race, will not only gain more global recognition and appeal, he would also attain the realm of Sporting immortality.
