The dawn of the super-athlete

LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 11: Usain Bolt of Jamaica approaches the finish line ahead of Ryan Bailey of the United States to win gold and set a new world record of 36.84 during the Men’s 4 x 100m Relay Final on Day 15 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at Olympic Stadium on August 11, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images)

“Faster, higher, stronger”

Never did the Olympic motto seem more fitting as it was for this year’s London games. This is the year of Usain Bolt, the fastest man in the world. I admit, I am not the biggest track-and-field star considering India hasn’t had a decent contender for the main attraction of the Games since the days of Milkha Singh and P.T. Usha. But this year was different. Anyone who read the news knew who Usain Bolt is and the milestone he was about to achieve: To be the first man in history to win consecutive Olympic gold medals in every category he was participating in.

In the news, he came across as someone cocky, loud-mouthed, even overconfident. But when he was out there on the field, participating in an event that ends in seconds, he was quite literally, unstoppable. 100m, 200m, 4X100m relay, every gold medal won, every record broken. And he still remains as arrogant as ever. But no one can dare call him overconfident.

‘I am the best that is and that ever was’ he says. And no one can even come up with an argument to prove him wrong. Oh, and he’s twenty-five years old. This is a man who has his entire life ahead of him. But he knows he’s accomplished all that he can as a sprinter. So what does an athlete with so much money and success do? He wants to try another sport. Yes, Bolt has very publicly announced that he wants to play for Manchester United. And no one’s laughing. He’s even got an offer to play 20/20 cricket in Australia. And who knows, he might just give his compatriot Chris Gayle a real run for his money.

Standing at almost six and a half feet and weighing over two hundred pounds, Bolt wants to prove to the world that he is the one choosing the sport, not the other way around. Will he be one of the best footballers or cricketers of all time? Probably not. But is it impossible for him? I wouldn’t place any bets on that. Assuming he does manage to play for a team with the caliber of Manchester United with some of the best in the world, he won’t just prove his abilities as a footballer, he will be the living proof of human evolution.

Usain Bolt could very well be the world’s first super athlete. A man with a physical prowess like no one else in the world. He’s achieved landmarks that seemed impossible just a few decades ago. And with all of this mighty success, there are still the likes of Yohan Blake who, at twenty two years of age, manage to snap at his heels. Who knows what he’ll be capable of in the next four years. And many more to follow after they’re gone.

The age has dawned. The stakes are much higher now. “Faster, Higher, stronger” is not just a motto anymore. It’s a challenge to anyone who dares accept it. The super athletes are here. Darwin would be proud.