His start was amazing in the semi’s as well; he beat Powell to 30m there too.
If you look closely it at final, at first glance it looks like he is looking back at the competitors at 85m, but at second look you can see that he is closely watching the world record machine on the right, easing up to just barely beat it.
Can you explain this “world record machine” to me because I don’t know what you’re talking about?
the hundredths are rolling over so fast you can’t do that in the 100.
The world record machine, is the black thing that runs the 100m in the exact way and time the previous record was run. So in this race, it was moving as usain did in the 9.72 in New York.
4am here, just finished with Bolt’s race time analysis. I was filming right perpendicular to 60m mark. Got the other splits by estimating body position relative to the marks on the track from the slow mo replays.
RT 0.165
10m 1.85
20m 2.87 (1.02)
30m 3.78 (0.91)
40m 4.65 (0.87)
50m 5.50 (0.85)
60m 6.32 (0.82)
70m 7.14 (0.82)
80m 7.96 (0.82)
90m 8.79 (0.83)
100m 9.69 (0.90)
Times at 60m
6.32 + 3.37 = 9.69 BOLT
6.40 + 3.49 = 9.89 THOMPSON
6.46 + 3.45 = 9.91 DIX
6.52 + 3.41 = 9.93 MARTINA
6.43 + 3.52 = 9.95 POWELL
6.48 + 3.49 = 9.97 FRATER
6.46 + 3.55 = 10.01 BURNS
6.55 + 3.48 = 10.03 PATTON
How much did Bolt lose? Was he going for a 0.84 on the last 10m section? Give him a 0.13x reaction time and we can see a 9.60 one day.
Bolt barely warmed-up before the semis, he didn’t tried blocks at all, just a few standing start with spikes instead, while Gay was doing endless start practices under Drummond supervision. Powell wasn’t looking so good on the blocks, he did a significant number of these, but obviously the trials were not of equal quality.
Before the final, the guys starting dancing, while Powell was walking go and back, you could see on his face that he was trying to smile while announcer told his name, but he was not ready to run. Note that for his last meeting before the race, in Monaco, Powell went 3.78 at 30m and 6.35 at 60m for 9.82, in still wind conditions. In final, he was nowhere that shape.
Impressed by Martina who broke his NR three times in two days.
Great season by Richard Thompson, who won NCAA in and outdoors, equal world lead indoors at 60m, also had to go through Trials, and 2 PBs at OG. Wow.
Special mention to Obikwelu, 100m European record holder (9.86), OG silver medallist at 100m, 3 times European Champ, who will retire.
Holy cow. Nice post. I did not realize that about his 9.82 race. Awesome!
Interesting to see Martina and Dix’s final 40m!
Thanks pj
Thanks for doing the work PJ
Great post PJ. I told you the first 30m was blazing. 3.78! 6.32 at 60m 7.96 at 80m. The deceleration hits in 90 to 100 range where you could expect .84 to .85 based on the curve, for a time of 9.64 to 9.63!
I counted 41 steps on my slow mo video tool and he clearly starts looking around and slacking his arms at 7.6 on the on screen timer
The screen timer doesn’ty stay up so the 7.96 to 80 is about right but a .83 split doesn’t indicate an expected change but it sets up the massive drop from 90 to 100.
70m 7.14 (0.82)
80m 7.96 (0.82)
90m 8.79 (0.83)
100m 9.69 (0.90)
Maybe we should focus more on this part of the race. If he was achieving 0.82, 0.82, 0.83 while looking around and commencing with his celebrations, isn’t it reasonable to assume that these splits (0.82 and 0.83) were not his top end max.?
If that’s the case what do you think the splits would have been had he performed at his 100% capacity?
Yea he was definitely out of the sprint position from 80-100…unless the final the points of sprint position are now:
- supinate palms as if you are a bird trying to slow down
- look around left to right and realize your dominance
- do a few high steps Deion ‘Primetime’ Sanders style before crossing the line
Remember, he’s flying into the 80 to 90 zone from .82 speed- and he sure as hell was going then! Also remember the .82 was with 0 wind. Watch his arm pump from 30m on. Just like it takes a while for him to slow, it takes a bit for the effect to kick in, thus he moves down 87, 85, 82. Read speed trap. Sometimes it feels as though it takes forever for that “exter gear” to kick in so you must be patient and stay relaxed.
What was Gay’s 60m/100m splits in the semi’s. Does anyone know?
I was getting at: I think it may have been possible for him to run .82s through 80-100. I know this is not logical without wind, but neither was his performance.
Think of the timing of a valsalva manouver during the top end burst. It creates a crest, which rises and falls slightly. Towards the end of the valsalva, you have less air and can create a bit less force. I think if you were able to measure a bit more finely, you’d prob find that the middle .82 was slighty faster and the bookend .82s marginally slower. That said, if it were possible to "even it out’ Usain would come closer than anyone else without a big tailwind.
RT 0.165
10m 1.85
20m 2.87 (1.02)
30m 3.78 (0.91)
40m 4.65 (0.87)
50m 5.50 (0.85)
60m 6.32 (0.82)
70m 7.14 (0.82)
80m 7.96 (0.82)
90m 8.79 (0.83)
100m 9.69 (0.90)
My observation from the naked eye was true, Bolt was still accelerating between 50-60. This race data is a statistical anomaly.