The Editor, Sir:

This is in response to Rev Devon Dick's column on Usain Bolt's potential performance in the coming Olympics.

Dear Rev,

Your assessment was incorrect: Michael Johnson had never gone below 10.09 for the 100 metres and if I use your calculation, he would not have broken the 200 metres world record. The maximum he would have done would be 20.18. Obviously, something is wrong there. The splits are of different speeds. There is marked acceleration in the second 100 metres to phenomenal speed.

Do not be surprised

If you were watching the Athens race on July 13, Bolt was very slow in the first 100 metres, but literally accelerated with 75 metres to go. With further fine-tuning, he will be able to break the 200 metres record this year. Do not be surprised if it is done before Beijing or at Beijing.

Note that Michael Johnson did the first 100 metres in 10.12 sec with peak speed of over 40 km/hour and the final 100 metres in an amazing 9.20 sceonds for the world record of 19.32 seconds. Bolt may be able to do the final 100 metres in 8.80 seconds with full acceleration, hence, the first sub-19-second 200 metres. Do not doubt, Carl Lewis did sub-nine seconds for his relay leg, anchoring the United States to world record in the 1984 Olympics 4x100metres relay. I know it is a relay, but the opportunity for acceleration is almost identical.

Cheer Bolt on to gold and gold and gold!

I am, etc.,

DEVON GARVEY

garvey_devon@yahoo.co.uk.