Rudisha
It was perhaps billed as the hors d'œuvres before the main event. But it was far from a second billing with David Rudisha winning the 800m in a World Record (1:40.91). It was perhaps the greatest 800m in history with all 8 men either running national records, personal bests or seasons bests. Even more impressive was that second and third places were teenagers - the future of 800m running looks bright. Rudisha lead from gun to tape running 49 s for the first 400m and 51 s for the second - setting the first athletics world record of the Olympics.
Bolt
The main event was, of course, Bolt in the 200m. He was going for the Double/Double. The first sprinter ever to defend both the 100 and 200m at the Olympics. Bolt’s start was perhaps the best he has had of the games and came of the bend with a commanding lead. It is perhaps telling that a couple of times around the bend Bolt was looking to the inside to see where Blake was. Blake was coming back at Bolt in the straight but Bolt had it won and took the foot of the gas for the last couple of steps. Bolt wanted to get this double to cement himself as a legend - not only in athletics’s but also in sport, and last night he did just that.
…and a broken leg
Manteo Mitchell is the type of man you want on your team. He is an American sprinter and in the 4x400m relay he broke his fibula halfway round but continued to run. “I didn’t want to let those three guys down,” he said of his his 4 x 400m teammates, “so I just ran on it. It hurt so bad, It felt like somebody literally snapped my leg in half” Despite this, he ran to the line (45 s split), passed the baton on to his team mate and the US duly qualified for the final.