Devon Dick

Usain Bolt, world record holder for 100 metres - male, should attempt four gold medals at the August Beijing Olympic Games. The cat and mouse game being played by Bolt's coach, Glen Mills, is good marketing. It creates uncertainty and excitement around Bolt. However, it is time to change the marketing strategy and encourage him to go for four gold medals.

Bolt is the first Jamaican athlete who has shown that he has the potential to mine four gold medals. He has the potential to win gold in the 100m, 200m, the 4x100m relay and possibly the 4x400m relay. Bolt needs to be in the 100 metres. He is the world record holder. This is the race of the China Olympics. Since the elimination of Tyson Gay from the 200m, there will be less interest in the 200m. Neither the defending champion Shaun Crawford nor Wally Spearman can generate great interest in the 200m race.

200m world record

The 200m world record held by Michael Johnson cannot be broken this year. The record is 19.32 secs, which means that Michael Johnson ran two 100m races back to back and both were 100m world records. The world record held by Bolt stands at 9.72 secs, so that even if Bolt was to run equally fast for the next 100m, the time would be 19.44 secs. Even if Gay who has the fastest wind-aided time of 9.68 secs was to get a similar wind-aided time over the next 100m, it still would not beat Johnson's world record.

Therefore, the interest will be in the 100m where three persons, namely Bolt, Asafa Powell and Gay could break the world record. This will be the race of the meet.

The 200m is the surest gold medal for Bolt. The IAAF ranks Bolt as the number-one runner in world. This is his race to lose.

The 4x100m relay has the potential to be another gold medal for Bolt, with a possible world record to boot. Can you imagine Bolt winning the 100m and 4x100m in world record times? He would be regarded as one of the greats such as Americans Jesse Owens, Carl Lewis and Jamaican Herb McKenley.

Probably the hardest gold medal will be the 4x400m relay. The USA team stands as the firm favourites. In fact, for Jamaica to get a bronze, the other quarter-milers would have to do their PR. However, somebody might pull up, tighten up, drop a baton or be disqualified. Therefore, have Bolt as one of the reserve runners, who would only race in the finals, and only if he has three or two gold medals in the bag. This is the first realistic effort a Jamaican athlete has had at getting four medals. Let us support Bolt! He is a special athlete. He electrifies a crowd. He is a charismatic athlete.

Attempting eight gold medals

Michael Phelps, American swimmer, is attempting eight gold medals. At least one swimmer from Australia, Ian Thorpe, says it cannot be done. This is causing excitement in the pool. Let Bolt go for four gold medals!

Perhaps the biggest hindrance in Bolt's going for four gold medals has to do with his preparation at the National Trials. Our National Championships had three rounds. However, the Olympic Games has four rounds. The American National Trials goes for four rounds. It is time our National Trials be four rounds so that our athletes get accustomed to the rigours of the Olympics and perform better. Merlene Ottey might have been a greater athlete if she had been accustomed to four rounds.

In spite of this inadequate preparation, Bolt should go for four gold medals.