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Unlike the hardened, scowling men who dominated this sport for decades, Bolt keeps things light. His speed down the straightaway Sunday left the 80,000 fans in awe. But the biggest cheers came a few minutes later, after he'd circled halfway around the track, made a big deal of getting into position, then pretended to point that fake bow and arrow toward the sky -- the now-famous "To The World" pose -- a crowd-pleaser that he debuted four years ago in Beijing.
He's spoken in the past about a penchant for partying, his less-than-stellar work ethic, his love of fast food. Four years ago, he set three world records -- 100, 200 and 4x100 relay -- on a steady diet of chicken nuggets.
This time, before his first big race, he was back eating fast food at a chain in the Olympic village.
"It was chicken with vegetables, so it was healthy," Bolt said. "Don't judge me."
Or, judge him all you want.
He is, of course, in a sport that doesn't require much judging -- only a track and a clock.
As is typical for the 6-foot-5 sprinter, the jump out of the starting block almost always takes some time. In this race, he was fifth fastest of the eight runners out of the blocks. He was racing in sixth place at about the halfway point. But he won with measurable distance between him and the second-place finisher, Blake.
"I stopped worrying about the start," Bolt said. "The end is what's important."
He's nowhere near there yet.
After the 200, there are the relays, where Jamaica suffered a blow for the 4x100 when Asafa Powell pulled up lame with an injured groin. Bolt says he won't rule out the 4x400, either. He has talked whimsically about doing the long jump some day, less so about returning to the 400 -- the distance at which he used to train but really doesn't like.
He has already joined Carl Lewis as the only men to win back-to-back 100s at the Olympics. And while Michael Phelps' record of 22 medals isn't reachable for a track star, with a few more wins in London, Bolt will find himself in very rare company.
"The entire world says he's unbeatable," said Richard Thompson, who finished second to Bolt in Beijing and seventh in London.
"And right now, he is."
[Associated
Press;
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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