A Bolt from the blue

Jamaica's Usain Bolt is an astonishing runner, and he just did an astonishing thing here in Beijing in the 100-meter final.

Not only did Bolt win, and not only did he set a world record while doing it (9.69 seconds), but he also slowed up and showboated toward the end.

How fast would he have gone if he hadn't?

Probably in the 9.5 range, I would think. But you can't really argue with a world record. If Bolt chooses to hold his hands down, look to the side and then thump his heart -- all before crossing the finish line -- well, no one was going to catch him anyway. The only threat to Bolt's world record right now is Bolt.

American Walter Dix (of Florida State) finished third. In a surprise, Trinidad's Richard Thompson was second. The other well-known Jamaican sprinter, Asafa Powell, was a disappointing fifth.

The other Americans in the race didn't fare as well -- Darvis Patton was eighth in the final, and Tyson Gay had such a bad semifinal that he didn't make the final at all.