Tue | Dec 5, 2023

Bolt not there yet

Published:Friday | August 10, 2012 | 12:00 AM
Rogge

Not so fast, Usain. You're not a "living legend" yet.

That's the verdict of IOC President Jacques Rogge, who said Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt is an 'icon' but needs to prove his greatness over more than two Olympics before he can claim legendary status.

"The career of Usain Bolt has to be judged when the career stops," Rogge told a small group of reporters yesterday. "If you look at the career of Carl Lewis, he had (four) consecutive games with a medal."

Rogge spoke a few hours before Bolt completed an unprecedented sprint sweep, becoming the first athlete to win the 100 and 200 metres at consecutive Olympics. Bolt took the 200 in 19.32 seconds, four days after he defended his 100 title with victory in 9.63.

Bolt has spoken repeatedly of his desire to become a "living legend" in London.

"Let Usain Bolt be free of injury," Rogge said. "Let him keep his motivation which I think will be the case ... . Let him participate in three, four games, and he can be a legend. Already he's an icon."

- AP