Sharp as lightning, Bolt brings glamour back

By Simon Denyer

BEIJING (Reuters) - Athletics desperately needed a new hero. It now has one.

With a burst of pace, a swagger and a huge slice of showmanship, Usain Bolt seduced a packed Olympic Stadium even as he smashed the men's 100 meters world record and coasted to gold.

The Bird's Nest stadium came to its feet as the athletes emerged. Then, as they settled on their blocks, there was a hush.

A helicopter flew overhead, the sound of its blades mixing with the roar of the gas as it burnt in the Olympic cauldron.

The starter's gun rang out. A surge of noise and adrenalin swept through the crowd, then gave way to open-mouthed admiration and finally, exhilarated laughter.

Within sight of the finish line, Bolt glanced once to his side, looked again, spread his arms wide, and almost skipped across the finish line, pounding his chest.

At 9.69 seconds, it was the fastest 100 meters ever, but the 21-year-old Bolt showed he can run faster.

"There was this deadly silence and then it was like -- go-o-o. We both yelled. I didn't expect to but it just gripped me," said 40-year-old German Christian Cohrs. "I saw this and thought, now I never have to go to another Olympic Games ever again.

"Nothing can top this."

It had been billed as a three-way contest between the world's best sprinters. That contest never really emerged, such was Bolt's dominance -- but it never mattered.

In truth, the 6 foot 5 inch Jamaican had looked like the winner from the moment he stepped up to the blocks in the semi-final just a couple of hours earlier.

Miming pistol shots with his index fingers, pointing at his chest as his name was announced, he oozed calm and confidence.

He crossed himself, looked to the skies, and, when the race began, cantered past the rest of the field.

JUST HAVING FUN

Before the final, the show continued.