Shawn Crawford says Bolt was track's Phelps

BEIJING, China: American sprinter Shawn Crawford, the Olympic 200-metres silver medallist, said Usain Bolt's performance on the track was just as excellent as Michael Phelps' achievements in the pool. Bolt raced his way into the history books when he sizzled to two world record in six days to land the coveted 100m and 200m sprint double. The Jamaican, who on Thursday turned 22, first cruised to a superb 9.69-seconds to win the 100m, prior to landing the half-lap title in 19.30secs. His later performance was so outstanding it even managed to pull down Michael Johnson's 12-year-old once improbable mark of 19.32secs in a headwind. "Bolt put on a show tonight (Wednesday). To me, it's just like Michael Phelps in swimming. He raised the bar for us," Crawford told reporter after the men's 200m finals. "He's made history. He's broken a 12-year-old record held by Michael Johnson and the same time he crushed the 100-meter record." Crawford won the 2004 half-lap title and was hoping for a repeat four years later in Beijing. However, he said after watching Bolt's dominance all season, he knew everyone else would have been running for the minor places. Crawford even went as far as saying that Bolt is the fastest man he has ever seen, and after all, who could prove that wrong. "Usain Bolt is the fastest man I've ever seen in my life," the American said. "The 19.30 to me wasn't strange. I've watched Usain perform all year. "He's been putting up phenomenal times. I watched him do the rounds of the 100m. He set a record in that at 9.69. I figured he had a chance to break the record here. I just didn't know if he would have it in his legs still after eight rounds. That was expected. I knew it was going to be a fast race. Usain is a phenomenal athlete." In the meantime, despite his achievements, which have never been done in the history of sports and indeed the Olympics, Bolt has become the target of the International Olympic Committee head, who believed the Jamaican celebrations were disrespectful to his peers. But while Jacques Rogge complained, those he is protecting, including Crawford, were enjoying the Bolt's childlike antics. "I love watching him when he does his thing," Crawford, 30, told reporters after the race. "When he was introduced, he was dancing, and the crowd loves it. It adds a bit of sparkle and cheer. "I guess there's mixed feelings among athletes," he said. "To me, I don't feel like he's being disrespectful. If this guy has worked his tail off, every day, on his knees throwing up like I was in practice, he deserves to dance."


Walker itching to run on 4x400 team

BEIJING, China: Olympic women's 400m Hurdles champion Melaine Walker says she would love to run on the Jamaican 4x400m relay team in Beijing, but noted that she does not want to take another person's spot. Walker established herself as a strong relay leg candidate with some outstanding final kicks to win several 400m hurdles title this season and judging by her form in the event on Wednesday, the 25-year-old would definitely be a great asset to the Jamaican squad. However, though she is craving to be a part of the quartet, the former sprint hurdle and 200m speciallist said she would not want to take away someone else's turn to shine. "I definitely would love to run on the 4x400 relay team," Walker told local television after winning the women's 400m hurdles. "But I don't want to go in and take another person's spot. "I want them to get their turn for glory too. If I’m asked I’ll do it." Earlier this season Walker had given indications that she would love to join the team at the Olympics, but she also feels that with or without her Jamaica will have a strong team. "Jamaica's 4x400m team will be strong. I would love to run, but with or with me the team is going to be wicked," she said after winning her specialty at the Golden Gala in Rome, Italy in July. Walker became the second Jamaican to win the women's Olympic 400m hurdles -- clocking a new Olympic and Jamaican record of 52.64secs for gold in the Bird's Nest.