Usain Bolt takes just seconds to reach Olympic pantheon (News Feature)

Beijing - Usain Bolt took 19.30 seconds to prove Michael Johnson wrong and to rewrite 112 years of sprint history. He then took a year to explain the double double at the Beijing Olympics with a combined total of 29.09 seconds. Bolt became the first man to win an Olympic sprint double with world records in the 100m and 200m. That also made him the first man in sprint history to lay claim to both marks at the same time. 'There is a new king in town,' said one Jamaican journalist while the nation's sports minister Olivia Grange said that 'we are the sprint factory of the world.' 'We have reggae, we have the best coffee, Bob Marley gave us rastafari, and now we have Usain Bolt,' Grange said boldly. The world was already running out of superlatives when Bolt bettered the 100m mark to 9.69 seconds on Saturday, easing up in the closing stages. On Wednesday night, the task was even more daunting to describe how Bolt had managed to better Johnson's seemingly invincible world record of 19.32 seconds from the 1996 Olympics. Before Bolt could explain himself the clock had ticked over to Thursday which marked his 22nd birthday. 'It blew my mind and it blew the world's mind,' said Bolt, visibly enjoying the historic moment as he watched himself run on TV. 'That guy looks cool. That guy is fast,' he quipped. Indeed he was and that even took Johnson by surprise after the great American had elaborated on why Bolt would get the record eventually but not on the night. 'I don't think he'll break it here. I will be shocked if he does. To run 19.3 he's going to have to run the curve a lot better and hold his speed to the line. But then I didn't think he was going to run 9.69,' said the legend who also owns the 400m world record. Johnson also named Bolt's 100m win 'the most impressive athletic performance I've ever seen in my life.' Both verdicts lasted less than six hours and Johnson conceded defeat to the BBC. 'Unbelievable. That was even better then the 100m because he used every single ounce of energy. He wanted that world record. It wasn't about beating anyone else because he was way ahead. Congratulations Usain Bolt.' Bolt made it clear again that the 200m has been his preferred distance (he only added the 100m this year). 'I said all season the 200m means more to me than the 100m. The 200m has been my love since the age of 15. It is dear to my heart,' said Bolt. The only good news for Johnson on the night was that Bolt will not have a go at his 400m world record as well until 2009. Bolt's coach Glen Mills has for long wanted Bolt to run the 400m along with the 200m. Bolt said he would run the 100m and 200m until next year's worlds in Berlin, and then reassess. 'I will not run the 400m anytime soon. I may do something else after the world championships,' said Bolt. For Jamaican coach Bert Cameron, the 1983 world champion over 400m, it is only a matter of time until Bolt gives the longest sprint a go. 'He knew that he was ready (for the world record). He knows he can go faster, He can break the 400m world record if he wants to,' Cameron said. Grange, Cameron and everyone else in Jamaica from the prime minister to the entire population of 2.6 million stressed that Bolt is just a normal guy - and the man in question agreed. 'He is a humble young man from rural Jamaica, Jamaica is proud of Usain,' said Grange. Bolt went through various antics and dances again before obliterating the field and his day up to the race resembled Saturday, sleeping in until 12, eating nuggets, going to the stadium, having more nuggets. That was probably not what Grange meant when she said 'We eat well,' but it did show Bolt's carefree attitude. Bolt refused any comparison with eight-time gold medallist swimmer Michael Phelps, rejecting a claim from American silver medallist Shawn Crawford, the 2004 gold medallist who trailed the mile of 0.66 seconds at the line. 'I am lightning Bolt,' he said, also dismissing comparisons to Johnson. 'I just want to be me. Michael Johnson has revolutionised the sport, I have just done well,' he said modestly. But he also said: 'I have written history, I am real proud.' And Bolt warned that he wasn't finished yet with his Olympic mission after becoming the first since Carl Lewis and the ninth overall to get the double. 'I have one more to go. I will refocus again to get one more medal,' he said, looking ahead to Friday's 4x100m relay.