Anthony Foster, Star Writer

Donald Quarrie is one of six Jamaicans who have held outdoor individual world records. He was joint holder of the men's 200m and 100m world records during the 1970s. - anthony foster

beijing

Donald Quarrie, the 1976 Olympic 200m champion and former sprint double record holder, described Usain Bolt's world-record run to win yesterday's Olympic 200m final as smooth and fantastic.

"It was smooth, it was fantastic and when he hit that straight away, he went for the record," Quarrie, technical leader for Jamaica's team said.

Bolt's mark bettered the previous best of 19.32 set by America's 'Superman' Michael Johnson back in 1996.

Icing on the cake

Asked if he expected Bolt to run that fast, Quarrie, who held both 100m (9.9) and 200m (19.8) records in the mid '70s, replied:

"We knew it was possible, but we wanted the gold medal, so he got the gold and the world record, so it's icing on the cake,"

Responding to questions regarding how fast he thought Bolt could go, Quarrie said, "Right now, we should just enjoy the moment, cherish it and worry about tomorrow some other time."

A few hours before Bolt broke the record, Michael Johnson, a coach, manager, TV pundit and IAAF ambassador, told journalists at the IAAF's press conference yesterday that Bolt would break his record, but not in Beijing.

"I don't think he'll break it here," he added. "I will be shocked if he does. To run 19.3 he's going to have to run the curve a lot better and hold his speed to the line. But then, I didn't think he was going to run 9.69."