Bolt sets new 100m world record

Usain Bolt set a new 100m world record by clocking 9.72 seconds at the Reebok Grand Prix meeting in New York.

The 21-year-old Jamaican, who won silver in the 200m at last year's World Championships, was running the 100m for just the fifth time.

Bolt beats the previous best of 9.74 set by compatriot Asafa Powell.

"I wasn't looking for a world record but it was there for the taking so I just went out there and ran my best race," he said.

Bolt beat Tyson Gay into second place, with the American running a personal best of 9.85.

The 6ft 5in Bolt made the track world sit up and take notice on 3 May when he clocked the second-fastest 100m time in history, 9.76 seconds.

Bolt has made no secret of the fact that he sees himself as a 200m specialist and earlier in the week he was still undecided if he would even enter the 100m Jamaican Olympic trials.

However, after becoming the fastest man on the planet he confirmed he would now double up in Beijing: "I'm definitely going to run the 100 in the Olympics.

"I've just got to concentrate now and work on my 200 some more, because I haven't been doing a lot of 200 work."

And despite setting the world record, Bolt still considers the Olympics to be the big prize.

"I don't think there's any comparison between the two," he said. "You've got to be Olympic champion or world champion to really count.

"Tomorrow if someone comes and runs faster than me I'm no longer the fastest man in the world. If you're the Olympic champion then they have to wait four more years to get you again.

"I think the Olympics is the biggest thing, so I'm looking for that, definitely."

Bolt has primarily used the shorter distance to improve his start and admitted he was happy there had been a false start the first time he went into the blocks.

"I was glad of that first false start," he said. "My first start wasn't that good but I knew if I got Tyson on the start I would have a better chance of winning.

"Tyson and I aren't really good at starting so, my coach said concentrate on your drive (out of the blocks) and transition phase, get it right and just take it from there and I did exactly that."

He added: "I got out well. I've been working on my start for a while. I think I did good work today on my start. I'm just happy with myself."

BBC SPORT | Olympics | Athletics | Bolt sets new 100m world record

gwaan jamrock

Well done...now the pressure is on hopefully he wouldn't be overwhelmed like Asafa....the 100M finals would be worth savouring

Hate to say it but I hope he's clean.

Time for me to rethink my vote on 100 meters champ prediction.

Looks like those Jamaicans have finally managed to manipulate the medicinal qualities of weed

Not necessarily. If he has the same mental block that his compatriot Asafa Powell seems to have then he won't be winning anything in Beijing.

lanky sprinters are not known for blasting out of the blocks. Steve Williams was a notorious closer. If Carl Lewis had been better out of the blocks he would have been unbeatable.

I loved running the 200, you win it in the curve. I hated the straight 200.

We run tings'

go jam go!!!!

what ever happened to hasley crawford?

lennox miller was a horse...

Carl Lewis was unbeatable......

If your talking about Gatlins team mate Crawford, I personally believe he was on drugs too.

The man was really good at one point. Then for no apparent reason his form just dropped. These days he isn't even a contender, he is just another number.

crawford held on pretty late...maybe he started late.

i remember the last olympics he competed in they were saying he was the oldest to have competed in the 100.

i thought gatlin was american??

crawford was late 80s or early 90s at the latest. big and gangly guy, but strong at the end.

do you remember merriweather the doctor who wore swim trunks and suspenders?

what about the big russian in the 70s valere borzof who ran like hell. he was the fastest white guy I have ever seen who beat our boyz regularly in the sprints.