Bolt to face the Norwegian challenge

Nobody can ever question Usain Bolt, he has clearly established himself as the finest ever athlete of any era with handfuls of gold medals and an exclusive domination of world records at 100m and 200m. He is making his third consecutive visit to Oslo where he has delighted the athletics mad crowd with his level of performance and his bonding with the fans.

After successfully coping with all contests in the previous Bislett Games, Bolt will face a serious test in the person of Norwegian sprint record holder Jaysuma Saidy Ndure. The tall Oslo resident has finally found the form that locals have expected of him for so long and regard him as more than a serious contender in this year’s IAAF World Championships to be held in Moscow in August.

Ndure has always exuded vast talent but now under the careful scrutiny of renowned coach Olav Magne Tveitå, he seems to have found renewed focus, consistency and belief in his own ability. Items that will be essential if Ndure is to be regarded as a medal prospect in Moscow.

In Rome’s Diamond League meeting on Thursday night , Ndure swept past the field in the middle of the 100m to win as he liked in 10.13 (his fastest time this season). Indications are that he will be better suited in the 200m event where his long stride can perhaps match Bolt in the latter stages of the race.

Bolt represents the “total package” and is brilliant both on and off the track with a personal record that is the envy of every athlete. His personal bests are indeed the current world records for 100m (9.58) and 200m (19.19). Although he was edged out in Rome’s Diamond League 100m, he has a record of rebounding after a loss with emphatic victories. However, Jays himself does boast an impressive set of personal bests of 9.99 (100m) and 19.89 (200m), making him the first European to have broken both the magical ten seconds for the 100m and the twenty seconds barrier for the 200m. Of course these are the recognized standards of excellence in the sprinting world.

The 200m at Bislett stadium is always a fitting climax to an exciting program, however with the prospect of the World’s greatest athletes being tested by a Norwegian will have the crowd in an electrifying mood as it looks forward to this potentially stirring encounter.