Americans leave Berlin with 22 medals from worlds

BERLIN – This wasn’t a scene the Americans were hoping to see again. The setting shifted, yet the world championship results played out eerily similar to the Beijing Olympics.

BERLIN – This wasn’t a scene the Americans were hoping to see again.

The setting shifted, yet the world championship results played out eerily similar to the Beijing Olympics.

Usain Bolt still can’t be beat, the U.S. 400 relay teams still struggle to work the baton around the track and the Jamaicans remain atop the sprint rivalry.

Sure, the Americans won the medal count, just like last summer, but the Jamaicans got all the buzz.

Bolt electrified the world again, improving his world records in the 100 and 200. With his antics and outgoing personality, the fun-loving runner dazzled the Olympic Stadium audience.

He also showed just how big of a gap there is in sprinting these days.

Even when Bolt went all out –grunting and clenching his teeth on his way to a 19.19 in the 200–there looked to be more in his tank.

How low can that mark go? No telling.

“I’m just waiting for the lights to flash ‘game over,’ ‘cause I felt like I was in a video game,” U.S. sprinter Shawn Crawford said after the 200.

Bolt’s in a class by himself. He’s elevated track, giving it a “did you see that?” element.

“This is an exceptional athlete that comes around once in a generation,” said Doug Logan, the CEO of USA Track and Field. “He’s great for Jamaica, great for the sport, great for the U.S.”

For the United States?

______

To read the rest of this article, subscribe to our digital or paper edition. For previous editions, contact us for details.

In photo: Usain Bolt

Copyright 2009 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

About Post Author

Comments

From the Web

Skip to content