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July 04, 2008
Bolt –Asafa, who is better?
By: Dave Lindo
 The big clash between world record holder, Usain Bolt and former world record holder, Asafa Powell at the recent Jamaica National Trials, not surprisingly, did not materialize. Both had played down the clash in pre-race interviews and said that they would do just enough to qualify for the Olympics team.
In the end Bolt won, looking very relaxed, even having time to glance twice at his friend Asafa, winning in a time of 9.85. While Powell just as relaxed came second in 9.97 sec.
So all focus now is on that Olympic Gold medal at the Beijing summer Olympics. Both athletes said that an Olympic Gold far outweighs having a world record as the record will easily go but the gold medal stays with you for ever.
The Bolt - Asafa debate about which of the two is 'faster' in the 100m is still circulating. I would stick my neck out in saying that presently, Bolt is in much better condition than Asafa and is capable of running faster.
However, as the outstanding track and field analyst Earl Bailey said on a Talk Show programme on RJR on Monday, June 30, 2008, "with 6 weeks to go before the Beijing Olympics anything can happen. An athlete can improve as well as drop form."
Even on the day itself, in just under 10 seconds, the 100m finals race will be completed and the winner of the Olympic Gold medal would have been decided.
Many factors will come into play in deciding who wins. Who will survive the 3 preliminary rounds using less energy. And in the finals, who executes the perfect race. The start, the 'transition stage' and the finish.
There is also the mental game; which athlete will crack under pressure, who is mentally tougher, Bolt or Asafa. Well, Asafa had shown at the last Olympics that he withered under the pressure. In the second time around though, he should be better prepared in that aspect.
Bolt, in that department loves the 'hype', loves competition and has proven to be mentally tough.
The 'Tyson Gay factor' is also a serious one to take into consideration. The Americans don't like to lose and Bolt whipping the man on his home soil, in breaking the world record, posting 9.72 at the Reebok Track Classic in New York on May 31, 2008 didn't go down well with Gay and the Americans in general.
Gay has bounced back with a wind assisted (4.1m per sec. wind) 9.68 seconds, the fastest time ever ran by a human being, which he did at the US Trials. He also ran 9.77 sec. in the semi finals of the trials.
Gay said that he and his coach, Jon Drummond, went back on the drawing board and made some improvements with his start, and his general sprinting technique.
One thing for sure, it argues well for Jamaica, in having the two fastest men in the world who are both trained by Jamaicans in Jamaica. This speaks volumes for Jamaica's track and field.
Posted by yardFlex at July 4, 2008 12:01 PM
Comments
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Posted by: crystal
on July 4, 2008 12:24 PM
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well asafa made his 9.77 s
and bolt made 9.74
so which one is better
id say bolt
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Posted by: john
on July 4, 2008 01:37 PM
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why cant we just love ans support them both and leave the competition thing for outsiders. they r both very talented!
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Posted by: Dugu Dugu
on July 4, 2008 02:27 PM
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Posted by: Jeronimo66
on July 4, 2008 03:47 PM
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di two a dem fass lakka lightning, LOL, too close to call the difference is milliseconds people milliseconds dem both fass, instead of seeing who is better we should be happy that the two fastest men in the world are representing Jamaica.
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Posted by: iyah
on July 4, 2008 03:54 PM
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LOOK PEOPLE BOLT GREW UP IN THE SPORTS SCHOOL SYSTEM WHERE HE WOULD HAVE BEEN COMPETING FROM A TENDER AGE HENCE HE IS MENTALLY TOUGHER,NO ONE KNEW ABOUT POWELL UNTIL HE BURST ON THE SEEN THIS WAS AFTER HE FINISH HIGH SCHOOL HENCE HE IS MORE DITERMINE HE COULD HAVE CHOSE NOT TO RUN AND JUST GO LOOK A JOB,WE SHOULD JUST BE GREATFULL THAT THE REST OF THE WORLD ENVY US RIGHT NOW AND STOP TRYING TO BUILD RIVALS WHERE THERE IS NONE,
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Posted by: dgangsta
on July 4, 2008 04:29 PM
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uno fi a talk say 2 jamaicans a fastest men ina world,, not whos the best wamp to uno man!!! cha dem nuh ina no competition, dem only a do dem ting,, so mek dat stay outdoors!!!1
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Posted by: Msty
on July 4, 2008 04:54 PM
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Big up them both, doing there country proud.
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Posted by: Galliwasp
on July 4, 2008 08:31 PM
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I enjoyed the article, but several errors were spotted. Here are some:
annlist - analyst
"9.85.(,)While Powell.." use comma not full stop
Punctuate better "Many factors will come into play in deciding who wins.(, and) Who will survive the 3 preliminary rounds using less energy. And in the finals, who executes the perfect race. (Do not use full stop as there is no subject in sentence) The start, the 'transition stage' and the finish.
"the mental game;(:) which athlete will crack under pressure..."
"it argues (augers) well for Jamaica"
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Posted by: toni
on July 4, 2008 08:36 PM
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i agree why couldn't y'll just praise the two... why do we have seprate... both of them are real good and they make me proud to be jamaican... there
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Posted by: Anthony christie
on July 4, 2008 09:32 PM
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I really think Bolt have the killer instinct,He is more confident,I just love the guy attitude,Glen mills his coach is one of the best the world ever see,he will motivate to that point. I'm. proud of both guys. best wishes to both at the olympic.jamaica anxiously await, I'm living my dream through these guys. I know i have let jamaica down but i will be standing tall this summer proud to be a jamaican. I hope the entire country will unity behind these wanderful olympian.
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Posted by: MajorT
on July 4, 2008 10:10 PM
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First & Second wi ah luk fah eena Beijing. It nuh matta who win tuh mi, as lang as wi cum first & second.
Look for JA to break the women's 4x100 metre relay record. That quartet will be suppen else.
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Posted by: classy
on July 4, 2008 10:17 PM
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asafa to di flippin worl!
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Posted by: irie daughter
on July 5, 2008 02:58 PM
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It's a very exciting time for Jamaicans all over the world. Once again, our name is out there. Congratulations to Bolt and Powell. Can anyone bring me up to date with the female athletes. How are they doing in relation to USA?
Bless
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Posted by: DEFENDER
on July 5, 2008 03:07 PM
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IS THIS BEHAVIOUR A SHEG-UP JAMAICA, ALTHOUGH COMPETITION IS GOOD, MORE TIME WE HAFFI JUS EASY..CAUSE BOTH OF THEM ARE VERY TALENTED,IN ANY COMPETITION THAT MUST COME FROM ANOTHER COUNTRY...ASAFA AND BOLT ARE ONE..AND THAT IS JAMAICAN...
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Posted by: Make de right choice
on July 5, 2008 05:16 PM
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Nothing is wrong in wanting to know who is the faster guy..... I mean, the fact is Asafa has done run the distant in 9.74 seconds and Bolt did it in 9.72 so based on that ,,,,,Bolt is the faster guy...up to the time.
But alas, this could change at any minute....Asafa needs to win at Beijing to settle the argument that he cant handle the big events...so on that grounds i would want him to win..Bolt on the other hand fears no foe...he is just fearless and right now he is on top of his game. So this olympic i think it will be Asafa in first place and bolt a very close second....there might even be a photo finish and Tyson Gay in a distant third place....
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Posted by: Wade Cameron
on July 6, 2008 03:13 PM
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Lighting fasta dan thunda
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Posted by: Ricky Rudy
on July 7, 2008 11:10 AM
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Dis a nuh beauty contest, suh mi nah vote. Di man dem a put up dem heart innah dis ting an mi jus proud fi see di yute dem a blaze up di track.
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Posted by: mash
on July 8, 2008 09:48 AM
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I am just soooo proud n happy that both are Jamaicans. Big ups!! I love them both, especially Mr. Powell (Asafa). But I do hope that they both continue in the same form, because if they do, we can look for crazy gold medals at this year's Olympics. I am really proud of them both!! Love u guys!!
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Posted by: katty
on July 10, 2008 07:40 PM
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ASAFA DI BOSS WI SAY!!! BOLT UR THE MAN.
I DONT KNOW BOUT U PEOPLE, IF U R A REAL JAMAICAN U WOULD U SUPPORTING BOTH OF THEM. THEY ARE BOTH ON THE JAMAICAN TEAM AND THATS WHATS GOOD!!!!
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Posted by: Cher
on July 14, 2008 03:39 PM
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I would say the better athlete of the 2 is Bolt.
Not exceuting the race properly in comparison to the perfect exceution and beat that time is something for teh ages.
Not may can do that. Both are very good athletes, but i would give Bolt the edge.
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