Why doesn't Usain Bolt Long Jump?

Asking why Bolt doesn't long jump is like asking why Bekele doesn't racewalk.

Runningart2004 wrote:

I think the 100m/LJ combo isn't as common as we like to think.

Alan

I've seen more people do 100m hurdles/LJ combo instead.

But yes, Bolt has described himself as lazy. It would be a higher probably of him running the 400m in the Olympics than of him competing in the LJ.

Also, he said on Top Gear this week that he weighs 210lbs.

From a brief, probably unreliable, googling I found these for comparison:

Lewis 175lbs

Powell 175lbs

Pedroso 146lbs

Saladino 154lbs

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Hang a doobie off a pole about 35 feet out from the start of the long jump. New WR.

what I think wrote:

Also, he said on Top Gear this week that he weighs 210lbs.

From a brief, probably unreliable, googling I found these for comparison:

Lewis 175lbs

Powell 175lbs

Pedroso 146lbs

Saladino 154lbs

I double checked on

, since I was curious about each of these jumpers heights as well. You're a little off with the weights, but not too much.

Lewis: 1.88 m (6' 2"), 80 kg (176 lb)

Powell: 1.88 m (6' 2"), 77 kg (170 lb)

Pedroso: 1.76m (5' 9"), 66 kg (144 lb)

Saladino: 1.83m (6' 0"), 70 kg (154 lb)

Bolt: 1.96 m (6' 5"), 86 kg (190 lb)

But as we can see from regular photographs, Bolt is one lean 6' 5" man. Lewis and Powell look bigger than Bolt, and they are 3 inches short and 20 lbs lighter.

If 190 lb was how much Bolt weighed when he was at the Olympics last year (I don't know if it is), how could he have gained 20 lbs and still run a 19.5x if his statement from Top Gear is correct?

Thanks for that.

I've also seen 198 lb quoted for Bolt.

Iran Irun wrote:

Doping doesn't necessarily shorten your life. Look at Schwarzenegger. The man was juiced out of his mind for years and he's still healthy in his 60s.

Schwarzenegger is aided by a pig valve now from a cardio-operation.

what I think wrote:

Thanks for that.

I've also seen 198 lb quoted for Bolt.

I can believe that too. I don't know what date the 190 lb was determined, but the 210 lb seems odd to me.

that was a congenital heart defect, his brother had the same problem IIRC

oinkoink wrote:

Iran Irun wrote:

Doping doesn't necessarily shorten your life. Look at Schwarzenegger. The man was juiced out of his mind for years and he's still healthy in his 60s.

Schwarzenegger is aided by a pig valve now from a cardio-operation.

triple_jumper wrote:

Bolt is better suited for the standing broad jump....

Doesnt he have a kid already? If not he is going to soon. word on the street is that he has been jumping broads non-stop since the Olympics. Standing, Laying down, in a car...the guy is an animal!

I believe you have made a semantic error in equating the broad jump with jumping broads. This can happen to runners (and jumpers) who approach English as a second language. It is a most lamentable confusion.

Stir the pot wrote:

triple_jumper wrote:

Bolt is better suited for the standing broad jump....

Doesnt he have a kid already? If not he is going to soon. word on the street is that he has been jumping broads non-stop since the Olympics. Standing, Laying down, in a car...the guy is an animal!

C/M Runner wrote:

what I think wrote:

Thanks for that.

I've also seen 198 lb quoted for Bolt.

I can believe that too. I don't know what date the 190 lb was determined, but the 210 lb seems odd to me.

Well the 210 is what came out of his own mouth. Possible he doesn't know his own weight or added a few pounds to make his time in the car seem more impressive. (Watch Top Gear on the iplayer for context)

I think Bolt should do the long jump to add to his greatness. He should compete in the 100, 200, 400, long jump, and pole vault. If he could win all the events at the Olympics, he would establish himself as, unquestionably, the greatest athlete of all time.

Or maybe switch the pole vault out for triple jump or even more incredible would be the 400 hurdles.