BOLT OUT FOR THE REST OF THE SEASON

This is like Tiger withdrawing from that tournament several months ago because his neck hurt...he was just simply getting pounded. Also, the doping police are probably about ready to pinch Bolt.

i just saw this on espn.com

Anyone notice that, after Gay beat Bolt, people were making excuses that Bolt was hurt this season and could not train properly, therefore didn't perform to his best?

Has anyone considered the possibility the REASON he is hurt is because he didn't train properly early in the season, and then tried to perform at a relatively high level? He admitted he wasn't going to set any WRs this year. He admittedly slacked off training in the pre-season, partied a lot, traveled a lot, etc. I think the lack of training, yet going out to win races has caused his injuries. I hope he doesn't enter the injury cycle like so many do. Of course, I also hope Gay gets out of the injury cycle.

What do you think? Whould this have happened had he beaten Gay last week?

This report might actually be true.

I thought that in Beijing Bolt was an idiot in the 100m, letting up. You never know when you'll be injured--if you can go all-out, then do it, you may not get a second chance.

He got that second chance in Berlin, and didn't waste it.

Tall guys are definitely more prone to injury, especially in the back and feet.

I think the historical reason that they haven't excelled in the short sprints has been that they cannot maintain the level of training required to be elite--they get injured too fast, especially running the 200 turn and doing accelerations out of the blocks, and the power lifting that is required in the off-season.

For whatever reason, Bolt has managed to escape those types of injuries so far. You see the injuries among big decathletes especially, guys who tend to be tall, but also muscular. Today's tall sprinters seem to me to be more muscular than yesterday's (like Lewis), meaning more pounding and more injuries.

One more thing--in my experience, shorter guys can eventually recover from their various injuries, whereas with the taller guys, the injuries seem to last much longer, sometimes for the rest of their lives.

This is totally plausible--unlike Powell's "inability to even run 100m" one week, and coming back to race the next week. I'd like to see Bolt preserve himself for next year.

2011 and 2012 count.

I totally agree with the Stache, IF there is actually is some problem with Bolt.

It's a good think that only one of the big three gets all the big endorsement deals.

I wonder if Gay and Powell had the same financial luxuries as Bolt, whether they would keep up their meet schedules.

I don't know, but I suspect that Bolt is in a position to lose appearance fees and still be fine with his endorsement deals.

The sad thing is that the typical ESPN.com reader won't even care that the best athlete in the world - bar none - is out. They care, however, when a stick-and-ball pudgie can't pitch on Tuesday.

C'mon man. Usain Bolt is not the best athlete in the world. He is the fastest human being on the planet, but he is not the best athlete in the world. He's not even close to LeBron James. Not even close.

Jaycee Are wrote:

C'mon man. Usain Bolt is not the best athlete in the world. He is the fastest human being on the planet, but he is not the best athlete in the world. He's not even close to LeBron James. Not even close.

I almost agree but you should have picked someone else, like a decathlete.

We disagree...no biggie.

whether or not it is true, Gay has to be pumped - there is at least a strong possibility that Bolt is now dodging Tyson Gay.

I correctly said a year ago 1/ Bolt would have a down 2012 2/ would not train carefully and could be injured . Swami Satch predicts he will fully recover and win 100 in 2012 Olympics but will not run 200 as turn produces a lot of strain on tender achilles.

Is it really his back that is hurt or his pride...

Sorry, just very disappointed. The masses care about Bolt and it's good to see track and field in the mainstream media again. It used to be that way years ago - but now we're subjected to NFL preseason nonsense and diluted pennant races for the rest of the summer.

biggie fries.... mmmmmmm

bolt is sneaking away to start a steroid cycle. getting time off for an injury, sure, he wouldnt be taking time off if he did not just get his butt kicked. his body is breaking down from the stress and needs to reload with a few needles.

14:59 wrote:

bolt is sneaking away to start a steroid cycle. getting time off for an injury, sure, he wouldnt be taking time off if he did not just get his butt kicked. his body is breaking down from the stress and needs to reload with a few needles.

well that would make a ton of sense except that the athletes are subject to year round drug testing, both in season and out of season. Doping officals have every right to show up to his front door and wait for him to come home

Let's not forget that Bolt ran what looked to be a relaxed 9.82 (+0.5w) in Lausanne this year.

He even let up in the last 20m, so much so that Blake actually seemed to be gaining on him.

For whatever reason, he fell apart in his 9.97.

I can appreciate with back and achilles problems that he wouldn't have any start or acceleration. I have the same things myself, although my back is now better. New training flats were responsible for the achilles soreness, and I can tell you, it is scary.

I still train at the track, but it hurts afterwards, and I can't do starts/hard acceleration. But above all, unlike other injuries I've had, it is scary, something that feels like part of your body is on the verge of catastrophic failure.

Unlike the inevitable muscular stuff and some relatively minor joint problems, this achilles stuff is something that would, and has, kept me from seriously running. And without running seriously, there is just no way that Bolt will win this year, given how fast his competition is.

Better to take time off and take care of it, NOW, before he does something truly stupid.

Donovan Bailey tore his achilles playing basketball, something from which he never really recovered.