could bolt hold the 100, 200, 400 and 800 world records at the same time within the next 3 years?

I correct myself

10.09 Knoxville june 15 1994 2 in his heat.

FAIL

wineturtle wrote:

I correct myself

10.09 Knoxville june 15 1994 2 in his heat.

Well read the other post and correct yourself again-what he COULD have ran, not DID. If you don't think a 19.3 guy (who ran the curve in 10.0) could have gone under 10.0 than you've got another thing coming.

the reality of it wrote:

MarathonMind wrote:

Also, re: 400 - don't taller runners get hurt more by the turns?

If so then Bolt is at a disadvantage there.

He is the 200m world record holder, do not worry about his turn running ability!

And he will never break 1:48 in the 800m. He is a short distance sprinter, not a middle distance runner. He barely has the engine to take him around the track once, let alone twice. He will never be world class at 800m. Even including the 800m in this discussion is rediculous.

his own coaches thought he should concentrate on the 400 a couple of years ago but bolt refused. he ran 45 something in highschool and ran more 200's and 400's earlier in his career. most people thought he was a 200/400 guy and he was too big for the 100 and then he goes and destroys the 100 record. if he wanted to, he could probably destroy the 400 record within a year and then the question comes up again. if he can quickly dispose of anything mj put up and it took him a long time and alot more races to put up those times, then as a fan and out of curiosity wouldnt you want to see what he could do in an 800?

Bolt could not run a world class 800m. Look at all top 800m men, they are all built very, VERY differently than Bolt. Coe and Kipketer are skinny, like skin and bones on a couple of strong legs skinny.

Would you want to see Bekele versus a world class 100m field? Sure, we could see what he could run but seeing him finish 8th over a second back would shatter his image.

Likewise, seeing Bolt die over the last 300m and finish 10+ seconds back in last place would be heartbreaking for any true fan. He is lugging around too much weight right now to run a decent 400, let alone an 800.

bickle backer wrote:

I see 100-200-4x1- a few early season 4x4s till 2012OG with 4x4 only in champslevel races.

Serious 400 training would rob some of his 100 top end and doubt we have seen his ultimate top end yet.

He is a speeed sprinter not a strength sprinter(right now).

I can see a 200/400 28 year old. If Jam can grow some other 800 guys- I can see UB taking a leg4x8.

It would be nice, but I don`t think of him as a Juantorena in 2016.

i agree totally with what you said. as a fan of the sport it would be nice to see him take out the 400 and then try something that you never see even on the highschool or college level even, and that is a guy that is able to crush anyone in the 100 wanting to move up into the 800. if you look at the last 30 years or so the best 800 guys have been mostly specialists or even 800/1500 guys. its like there is an invisible mental wall that says if you are fast in the 200 and 400 then the 800 isnt even a question. how many 800 specialists do you see running the 400 these days? i hardly see any and i would bet that the next guy to be able to put up times like coe and kipketer would be a 400/800 guy not a 800/1500

What about Bolt's ability over 600m?

He could probably run 30.5 for the 300 WR as well. There are a few oppurtunities early in the season.

bickle backer wrote:

I see 100-200-4x1- a few early season 4x4s till 2012OG with 4x4 only in champslevel races.

Serious 400 training would rob some of his 100 top end and doubt we have seen his ultimate top end yet.

He is a speeed sprinter not a strength sprinter(right now).

I can see a 200/400 28 year old. If Jam can grow some other 800 guys- I can see UB taking a leg4x8.

It would be nice, but I don`t think of him as a Juantorena in 2016.

Jamaica has plenty of solid 800 runners, at least at the high school level. They routinely dominate the 4x800 at Penn Relays every year.

And I don't think Bolt has the desire or motivation to ever run a competitive 800. He has constantly complained about just running 400m distance, so what would make anybody think he would willingly jump up to the 800?

Agreed. Furthermore, why would he want to run the 800 and miss out on that sprinting money? Let's face it, sprinters like UB do a hell of a lot better financially than even the most dominant 800 runners. People come to those golden league track meets to watch Usain, not Borza.

James J wrote:

Bolt was dying at 350.... 800 no way.

Because he was running a 43 split. You put Kipketer running a 45 and he will look like he's dying at the end too. Bolt could have jogged a 50 and looked like he wasn't working. I mean I don't think he will ever be a great 800 runner but to say the reason he can't be is because he was dying at the end of a very fast 400 is stupid. Everyone looks that way if you run it hard enough.

What would be more impressive, Bolt world records in the 100, 200 and 400 or Haile Geb world records from 2,000 to 10,000 along with world indoor champion in the indoor 1500? Haile's stats are actually true and of course he later went on to get the 25k and up records after his shorter records were taken by Kenny B. If Bolt could get the 400 would that be a bigger deal than what Haile did in the late 90's early 00's

It would have been a trip to see Haile in an 800 back when he was running 3:32 1500's indoors. Around 1998/1999 there is no question that he could have shown up in any race from the 1500 to the marathon and either been the favorite or very close to favorite depending on wether or not El G, Komen, Tergat or Kannouchi were there. I think he even ran a 1500 in 3:31 at one point which suggests he should probably be able to run around 1:42/1:43 in the 800. The 800 would have definitely been a stretch but if he had done a couple 800's each year early on I would'nt doubt if he would have been able to go 1:43 eventually.

The Stache wrote:

Agreed. Furthermore, why would he want to run the 800 and miss out on that sprinting money? Let's face it, sprinters like UB do a hell of a lot better financially than even the most dominant 800 runners. People come to those golden league track meets to watch Usain, not Borza.

What would you pay more to see on the same night, Bolt 100/200 double or Bolt 400/800 double? The latter would be a circus and I would definitely pay more to see that, even the 200/400 I would think. He could still do the lightning bolt pose and dance with the mascot bear at the end he may have a little less energy.

i doubt doubt it

Most people would pay more to see the 100/200 double-Bolt is known for those and if he didn't run at least one of them the crowd would be unhappy. That would be like going to a Kiss concert and having them read you short stories all night long, or going to an R kelly concert and having him do nothing offensive. Besides, imagine the conversation with your coworkers...

You: So I went to the London Grand Prix the other day, and-

Guy1: -Hey, wasn't Usain Bolt running, the 100 and 200 world record holder?

You: Well yea-

Guy2: Did he set any world records? That guy is so fast!

You: Actually he ran the 800

Guy1: The what?

Guy2: The 800, really? What was his time? Did he win?

You: Actually he came in last. I think he ran around 1:52.

Guy1 and Guy2: Heh, who would pay money to see Usain Bolt in the 800? Thats like paying to see Haile in the javalin, Bekele in the long jump, Webb in the womens 200m and Yelena in the mens 10000m. Silly letsrun posters.

My answer is no.

He could hold every one of those records except the 800m.

I believe his physiological makeup and emphasis on speed over endurance would effectively render this record impossible for him.

But, in a hypothetical world where Bolt gives up the sprints to focus solely on the 800m for a few years, it might get interesting. Still, I would imagine maybe a 1:43 or similar.

I doubt he could break 1:48 for a 800. Even if he trained for it. A sprinter and a 800m runner are competing in two very different types of sports. And not different sports like basketball and football which both are very similar in athleticism (speed and agility). It is more like comparing golf and cycling. Think of it this way, why don't more 10.5 type 100 meter sprinters run 800 meters and dominate with their speed? Because they are completely different events psyiologically. After 200m you can't maintain top speed. You can get away with it in the 400m because it is so short but look at what happens to many sprinter types the last 100m (they fade). However, the second lap of a 800m is when the race starts. Sprints are about getting up to top speed as quickly as possible. Distance events are about maintaining a certain speed even though your body doesn't want to and that speed is not going to be your top speed. Therefore, they are extremely different psyiologically. He could break the 400m but another lap would negate his amazying top end speed.

I think it would even be quite a feat for him to own the 400m record. He's yet to break 45 in the open yet we are all giving it to him already...

Here's a list of 100m record holders who have held the 400m record as well:

...................................................

Short list!..:)

Alan

He was dying at 350, I dont care how fast he was running, if you want him go 7 seconds slower, then guess what he just worked for 7 seconds longer. Bolt couldn't break 1:50 with 5 million dollars riding on it.