Spoilsport Games chief Rogge under fire for swipe at Bolt the showman

13 April 2012

Double sprint champion Usain Bolt was condemned on Thursday night for his showboating antics by Olympics boss Jacques Rogge, who immediately felt a backlash from the athletics world.


Jamaican Bolt, the triumphant face of the Beijing Games, pounded his chest before crossing the 100metres finishing line in a world record 9.69sec last Saturday, then made little effort to congratulate the opposition after his second world record of 19.30sec in the 200m on Wednesday.

Instead, Bolt set off on a solo victory lap, swaying to the reggae music on the loudspeakers.

Crowd pleaser: Bolt after his 200m win

Belgian IOC president Rogge, 66, said: 'That's not the way we perceive being a champion. I have no problem with him doing a show. He should show more respect for his competitors and shake hands, give a tap on the shoulder to the other ones immediately after the finish and not make gestures like the one he made in the 100m.'

But American Shawn Crawford, who won silver in the 200m, said: 'I don't feel like Usain is being disrespectful. If this guy has worked his tail off, every day, on his knees throwing up like I was in practice, he deserves to dance.

'I love watching him when he does his thing. When he was introduced he was dancing and the crowd loves it. It adds a bit of sparkle and cheer.'

BBC Sport's Steve Cram, the 1983 world champion in the 1500m, also defended Bolt. 'He's just done something that no other sprinter has done before,' said Cram.

'He is very good for the sport, he's a young man, it's his birthday and he's just become a legend in the sport. He is an exuberant character and if he wants to have fun, let him do it.'

Rogge: critical

Bolt's manager Ricky Simms added: 'Usain has huge respect for Jacques Rogge. But there is absolutely no chance Usain would ever be disrespectful to other athletes.

'We know how the other athletes feel about Usain, so we're not worried. What you see from Usain is just happiness. He always goes out of his way to shake hands with other athletes. Maybe he didn't do this straightaway after these two races but he had just broken world records and won Olympic titles. Ask yourself how you would feel if you'd done that?

'Usain has taken athletics to a whole new audience this week and his personality is part of that.'

At the 2000 Sydney Olympics, the victorious American men's 4x100m relay team of Maurice Greene, Jon Drummond, Brian Lewis and Bernard Williams caused a rumpus by preening and flexing their muscles for the crowd.

Greene then repeatedly stuck out his tongue for the benefit of the cameras during the medal ceremony. USA Track & Field later apologised on behalf of the four sprinters.

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