In the women’s high jump final, Americans Vashti Cunningham, Chaunte Lowe and Inika McPherson are all looking to get onto the medal stand. Cunningham is the daughter of former National Football League quarterback Randall Cunningham, and at just 18 years old a big night in Rio could be a harbinger of things to come in the sport. It’s come true. The pressure is real. “I’ve proven to the world I’m the greatest in the sport, so it’s mission accomplished pretty much”.
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As in three Olympics, three races at each, three gold medals each time. The last time they didn’t win: 1992, when the Unified Team took gold with the Americans finishing second. “I am the greatest”.
“My team came through for me tonight”, Bolt said.
In a city reviled for its inequality and where the $12 billion spent on the Olympics are said to have done little to help the poor, Bolt’s visit is a small example of the legacy Rio’s Games might still have for aspiring athletes.
“I glanced. I mean, I realize we’re leading the medal count”. Be among [Muhammad] Ali and Pele.
“I hope he can have a good performance tomorrow in the final”.
With most of the other debates over about greatest this, greatest that, a new one might be whether Bolt now surpasses Marley as the most famous person to rock the world from the country known for sea, sun and sprints. It was Felix’s sixth gold medal, most ever for a US female in track.
The world’s fastest man is now a flawless nine-for-nine in Olympic finals. Bolt’s trophy case is monochrome; and it’s that golden aura of invulnerability that adds to his legend.
De Grasse is considered one of the men most likely to step into the huge void left by Bolt when he retires after next year’s world championships in London. If he does walk away, he’ll take a golden era of track with him.
He also saw Bolt and the US men’s basketball team, but let’s face it, no one is going to ignore invites to hang with Biles and the USA gymnasts right now. He went on to win three gold medals, break world records in the 100 and 200 (the latter of which I remember watching Michael Johnson set in Atlanta 1996) and share his postrace antics of doing the “Bolt” pose and interacting with photographers and fans. But Bolt has surpassed them all.
The Americans downed Spain 82-76 for their 24th consecutive Olympic victory in a rematch of the past two Olympic finals while Serbia routed Australia 87-61.
Canada earned the bronze medal. The American sprinters were rather displeased – Mike Rodgers used a word that we’re not allowed to repeat here. After the host nation’s football triumph, Brazilian star Neymar paid tribute to Bolt by replicating the athlete’s trademark “lightning bolt” celebration. He broke it out again Friday night, after taking the baton roughly even with Bromell before obliterating the field down the final straight.
I’m going to miss the competition and it’s just so many different feelings I’m feeling.
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“A great sprinter”, acknowledged Tyson Gay, who was dethroned by Bolt in 2008 as the world’s top sprinter.
