BERLIN--“Insane Bolt.” “That’s what we call him,” U.S. sprinter Wallace Spearmon said of Usain Bolt.
The playful Jamaican obliterated his second world record of the world championships on Thursday night, running 200 meters in a once-inconceivable 19.19 seconds.
Bolt sliced 0.11 off the record he set last year at the Beijing Olympics, the same margin by which he broke his 100-meter world record on Sunday when he ran 9.58.
“]To run] 9.5,” teammate Steve Mullings said, “is just crazy, 19.1 is just sick. He’s got an 18-second [200] in him coming pretty soon.”
Bolt shot out of the blocks with the best reaction time among the eight finalists, took the lead early on the curve and was grimacing as he came down the stretch into a slight headwind.
“I was trying my heart out,” Bolt said. “I keep telling you guys, my main aim is to become a legend.”
He’s well on his way.
Alonso Edward of Panama was second in 19.81, while Spearmon took third in 19.85.
Bolt, who received his second $100,000 world record bonus check, knew exactly how he would celebrate his 23rd birthday today. “I’m going to get a long sleep,” he said. “I’m really, really tired.”
Bolt will sit out the first round of the 4 x 100 meter relay, but Jamaica was favored to advance to last Saturday’s final and the expected showdown with the United States.
That could set up another duel with Tyson Gay, who opted not to defend his 200-meter title because of a groin injury.
Sending a record into the stratosphere brought the inevitable questions about doping.
“I don’t know what else I can say to convince people I’m clean, other to run and stay clean,” Bolt said. “I get tested all the time.”
Usain Bolt wins the 200 meters in 19.19 seconds, cutting 0.11 off the world record he set last year. He broke the world record in the 100 earlier.
