Jamaican sprint superstar Usain Bolt should show more respect for his rivals, said International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Jacques Rogge on Thursday.
The Jamaican, who celebrated his 22nd birthday on Thursday, has set the track alight with his world-record-breaking performances in winning the 100m and 200m Olympic titles.
However, Rogge, while complimenting Bolt, did not go as far as he had in praising American swimmer Michael Phelps and his eight golds — he had labelled him as an icon — and took issue with Bolt over the manner in which he behaved after he had crossed the line.
”Bolt is in another dimension to Phelps,” Rogge said. ”He must be considered like Jesse Owens in the 1930s. However, he has a bigger edge over his rivals. If he maintains this gap then he will be quite something.
”However, he still has to mature. He is a young man but he should show more respect for his rivals. That would be more in the spirit of the Olympic ideal.
”He should shake hands with them after the finish line. However, he is only 21 and he will learn. I have no problems with his showboating [prior to the race], but a shake of the hand or a tap on the shoulder immediately after the race would be a good gesture.
”It would be good not to have a repeat of the ‘catch me if you can’ gesture,” added Rogge, referring to Bolt’s actions metres from the line in the 100m when he turned to the crowd and opened his hands in what could be perceived as mocking his seven other opponents.
Bolt, who by winning the 200m on Wednesday became the first sprinter since Carl Lewis in 1984 to achieve the sprint Olympic double, will be in line for a third gold medal with the 4x100m relay team that begins its campaign on Friday. — Sapa-AFP