Today, Usain Bolt blew past his competition in the 200-meter sprint, winning a gold medal with a time of 19.32 seconds. The Jamaican was understandably pleased with himself, proclaiming, “It’s what I came here to do. “I’m now a legend. I’m also the greatest athlete to live.”
With each race, Bolt wins new fans. U.S. track legend Carl Lewis is not among them.
In a 2008 interview with Sports Illustrated, Lewis suggested that Bolt used performance-enhancing drugs.
Usain Bolt's anger may date back to this interview Carl Lewis gave in 2008, questioning his achievements http://t.co/2dC05wi9
— Alex Lowe (@AlexMLowe) August 9, 2012
Lewis: I’m still working with the fact that he dropped from 10-flat to 9.6 in one year. I think there are some issues. I’m proud of America right now because we have the best random and most comprehensive drug testing program. Countries like Jamaica do not have a random program, so they can go months without being tested. I’m not saying anyone is on anything, but everyone needs to be on a level playing field.
SI.com: I don’t want to put words in your mouth, but are you accusing Bolt of possibly doing something illegal in order to gain an advantage?
Lewis: No one is accusing anyone. But don’t live by a different rule and expect the same kind of respect. They say, “Oh, we’ve been great for the sport.” No, you have not. No country has had that kind of dominance. I’m not saying they’ve done anything for certain. I don’t know. But how dare anybody feel that there shouldn’t be scrutiny, especially in our sport?
Lewis himself was involved in a doping scandal:
Usain Bolt has every right to trash Carl Lewis. Accusing him of PEDs when Lewis failed not one, not two but THREE tests at the '88 trials.
— Ethan Calof (@ecalof) August 9, 2012
And last month, he expressed reservations about Bolt’s abilities:
Usain Bolt has made no secret of the lofty expectations he has for himself at the Summer Olympics this year. But when Carl Lewis thinks about the Jamaican speedster’s prospects in London, doubt settles in.
The Olympic legend questions Bolt’s chances at repeating his dominance in Beijing four years ago based on past trends of former sprinters.
“The reason it hasn’t been done is because it’s hard to stay at that level for a long period of time,” Lewis told the IANS. “People are always trying to beat you when you are a champion.”
It’s a pretty safe bet that Bolt wasn’t thrilled with Lewis’ assessments. Now that he’s broken the world record in the men’s 100-meter sprint and become only the third man in history (after Archie Hahn and Lewis) to take gold in the event in consecutive Olympics, Bolt is striking back at Lewis.
Why do Michael Johnson and Carl Lewis have so much bile towards @usainbolt ??? Every interview they chat bout him. Cho
— I Just Wanna Live. (@GMONEYizME) August 9, 2012
The fastest man on the planet has had enough.
Usain Bolt: "Carl Lewis, I have no respect for him… I think he's just looking for attention because no one talks about him."
— James Mirtle (@mirtle) August 9, 2012
Usain Bolt blasts Carl Lewis! "I've lost all respect for him," he says in victory press conf
— Ian Chadband (@IanChadSport) August 9, 2012
Usain Bolt on Carl Lewis: "For me, I've lost respect for him. All respect." Bolt said Lewis speaks strictly to get attention. #london2012
— David Woods (@DavidWoods007) August 9, 2012
Usain Bolt blasted Carl Lewis in his presser. Mad at Lewis's insinuations about the Jamaicans and drugs. Said he has "No respect for Lewis."
— Charles Robinson (@CharlesRobinson) August 9, 2012
Usain Bolt: "Carl Lewis – I have no respect for him. The things he says about the tack athletes are very downgrading."
— Charles Robinson (@CharlesRobinson) August 9, 2012
I think Carl Lewis will have something to talk about with Usain Bolt. http://t.co/eRhJtTi4
— Judi Lembke (@JudiLembke) August 9, 2012
Yup. Hope you brought a fork, Carl. You’ve got a lot of crow to eat.
Read and weep @Carl_Lewis RT @GoogleFacts: Usain Bolt is the first man to hold both the 100 metres and 200 metres world records.
— Amoy P (@amz_harajuku) August 9, 2012
Shout out to Usain Bolt for not backing down from Carl Lewis. Dude has done nothing but rip Bolt since 2008.
— Daniel Dudley (@DDisBORED) August 9, 2012
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