Usain Bolt - Greatest Olympian?

The guest commentary on the BBC of the men's 200m final was heavily filled with opinions that Usain is the greatest Olympic athlete.  His successful defense of the 100m and 200m titles is a first in the history of the Olympics and this is largely what has prompted these opinions.  I personally don't believe I have the credentials to say definitively if this is the case.  Michael Johnson was on the commentator panel and is very conclusive that Usain is in his opinion the greatest Olympic runner.  

Usain, feeling good.

A curious distinction?  Yes actually, Michael had made the interesting point earlier in the Olympics that the question of the greatest usually becomes instantly tainted by emotions and is rarely purely empirical.  The records that Usain holds are empirical facts as is his defense of his 100m and 200m titles - but there are other Olympians, like Michael Johnson himself, that hold similar records in defending other running titles (such as the 400m and 4x400m relay for Michael).  Similar debates rage on when comparing multiple medals won in a single Olympics versus a similar number over a span of Olympic games - which holds more worth?  No-one seems to agree. 

This is made even fuzzier when you ask Michael, who the greatest Olympian is; his answer, is Carl Lewis without hesitation.  Why?  Well, its personal opinion, empirical results and the non-tangible context of Carl Lewis' achievements; competing  against the racist-agenda Nazi hosts to the 1936 Olympics. 

My opinion is that Usain is absolutely great - eminently like-able, he is self-confident yet understated until he proves his point by results rather than words.  His relaxed and playful demeanor - a dramatic difference to the somber, laconic or boorish outbursts displayed by many other sprinters - adds to his personal appeal above his sporting ability.  By making others laugh with him and enjoy the spectacle is what separates him from other athletes.  But for me what I appreciate is his honesty, a point also highlighted by Michael Johnson, that continues to make him appear more human and fallible.  

By openly admitting his faults and and being realistic about his ambitions, he delivers what he promises: why would he not look to compete in the 400m?  Because he knows he does not have the determination to focus his training enough to succeed at the longer sprints.  Some might frown at this, but ultimately he delivers when it counts and does not waste energy on unattainable or even undesired targets.  

The Greek aphorism; "γνῶθι σεαυτόν", "know thyself" is as evident here as it was in The Matrix.  Is that the secret to his success?  Well it would not be that clear cut but it would follow the same line of logic as the pedagogy of Montessori schools - a favored model of mine, and the subject of another post. 

All we can say without controversy is that Usain is clearly the fastest man alive when it comes to the short sprints.  And a really nice guy.  What opinion we have of his greatness (and other athletes) seems to be more personal than practical then, but for me, the type of enjoyable spectacle that he conjures is what makes the Olympics more than just watching a clock count up to 19.32 seconds.