Radio Australia Today Editorial

Olympics. The Bolt Strikes Twice

21 August 2008

Sorry. That’s not my headline. It comes from our news website. But I had to refer to it because it works on so many levels.

It refers of course to Usain Bolt winning gold in two sprint events in Beijing.

Bolt. Lightning. Striking Twice. Get it?

It reminds me of an Australian sprinter from about 12 years ago, who was officially the fastest white man on earth. That was pretty cool, until you realised there were about 6000 black men who were faster.

One of my colleagues just made the comment that she can’t get excited about 100 metre sprints, because “it’s just men running fast”. The marathon, she says, that is an event. Those men and women barely survive the event. They are in horrible pain, but keep pushing themselves. The final 200 metres is probably the closest they will ever get to death. What about the gymnastics, where people have to use every muscle in their body, and combine it with art for a two minute routine.

I does make you think that a little sprint is a walk in the park. It’s not though. Apparently, Bolt’s system is full of lactic acid after the race. He is hurting, and will hurt for some hours. It is extreme sport. It forces the athlete to do the short, sharp snap which bodies are not made to do. It may even shorten your life somewhat.

And this is the thing that is mad about sport. You may be fit, but you are doing terrible things to your body. Yesterday there was a TV ad from Phil Kearns, former Australian rugby player, who was advertising arthritis medication or something. He starts by saying he played in dozens of international tests, so his knees are shot, but this medication helps..

Yes, I’ll stay in radio thank you very much. I like being able-bodied. Pain don’t work too much for me.

And I don’t think a gold medal would help too much when I can’t get up in the morning.
– Phil