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“Without a Doubt”- Usain Bolt Believes He Can Break His 100m World Record Using ‘Super Spikes’

Published 07/09/2021, 6:36 AM EDT

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The spikes used by sprinters today are totally different from the ones used in the yesteryears. Usain Bolt, the fastest man alive, has been a critic of the recent emergence of the ‘super spikes’ that have reportedly given the sprinters a tenth of an advantage. And could this help the sprinters break his long-standing records in 100m and 200m at Tokyo Olympics 2021, Bolt has his say on this.

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Does Usain Bolt like the new super spikes?

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Bolt has been assessing the advancement in shoe technology used in races. In a recent interview, Bolt was unhappy with advancements that are now giving a pace advantage to the sprinter. However, as the government body, World Athletics has allowed it, Bolt isn’t fully happy with the situation.

“How can I argue if World Athletics decide that it’s legal? I can’t do anything about it. The rules are the rules. I don’t think I’ll be fully happy, but it’s just one of those things,” Bolt said.

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Moreover, with the new super spikes, the sprinters are much closer to Bolt’s record. Bolt holds the 100m world record at 9.58 seconds and in the 200m he has 19.19 seconds. He is unsure whether the current crop of runners will break his record, however, he believes that with the new spikes he could easily breach the 9.5 seconds barrier.

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“We have guessed and we have talked about it, but I don’t know for sure. But definitely much faster. Below 9.5 seconds for sure. Without a doubt.”

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What is the advantage of the new super spikes?

The new super spikes have been in the headlines because they are different in construction. Gone are the days where manufacturers and runners believed that lighter and smaller spikes are faster. Now the spike length has increased and there is a carbon fiber plate in the sole that returns the energy the sprinter applies on the ground. That instead propels the runner further, giving him/her a boost. These soles have advanced so much that the runner gets more energy and boost than he/she puts on the track. Could this push the athletes even further and help them break Usain Bolt’s record at the coming Tokyo Olympics 2021?

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Written by:

Bhavishya Mittal

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Bhavishya Mittal is a tennis author for EssentiallySports, who is currently pursuing his Bachelor's degree in Journalism from Manipal University. A former sports editor for The Manipal Journal, Bhavishya has also worked for The New Indian Express. He has a keen eye for many sports but he is a particularly ardent follower of tennis, with a zest to create riveting articles on the ever-evolving sport.
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