VOA标准英语2008年-Lightning Bolt Hits Beijing Olympic Track

A Jamaican sprinter¹ has taken a very short time to rewrite two cherished² world records on the track. From the Olympics in Beijing, VOA's Jim Stevenson has more on the man with a name that fits his accomplishments³.
　

Jamaica's Usain Bolt celebrates winning men's 200m final at "Bird's Nest" National Stadium in Beijing, 20 Aug 2008

Several Olympic reporters have debated how to pronounce Bolt's first name. It is Usain by the way. But the world's fastest man prefers a better name.

"I am Lightning Bolt. I am not Flash Gordon or anybody. My name is Lightning Bolt," he said.

It is an appropriate name since the 22-year-old Jamaican became the first man to shatter⁴ both the 100 and 200-meter world records at a single Olympics. On Saturday night in Beijing, the tall one-meter, 96-centimeter Bolt used his long, quick strides⁵ to cover 100 meters in a jaw-dropping 9.96 seconds.

The longer distance is his specialty⁶. And no one could keep up with him in that race either as he sped to a record of 19.30 seconds. That time lowered the 12-year-old mark set by American great Michael Johnson (19.32), a record many people thought could not be broken.

Bolt says it is no surprise because the event has been his favorite for a long time.

"I have been saying all season the 200 (meter race) has been my love since I was 15," Bolt noted⁷. "I was the youngest ever to win the world juniors. And from that day on it has meant a lot to me. I have done a lot in the 200-meters, the world junior record holder⁸, world youth, it means a lot. I can not really explain. It is just close to my heart. And I will always love the 200 meters."

Shortly after the second race Wednesday, Bolt was asked how his double gold performance stood against Michael Phelps. The American swimming great won an unprecedented⁹ eight gold medals at a single Olympics during the first week in Beijing.

"I can not compare myself," he said. "I will not compare myself to Michael Phelps. He swims. He is a great athlete to win eight gold medals. That is just great. I am on the track. He is in the water. So you really can not compare it pretty much. But he is a great athlete. And I congratulate him on being the best at what he does."

Michael Johnson won the 200 and 400-meter titles at the 1996 Atlanta Games. But Bolt says he is not planning to run longer than his favorite 200-meter distance.

"Do not hold your breath," Bolt said. "I do not think I will be going up to the 400-meters anytime soon. But right now, I guess the next aim is really to just finish the season injury free. And then [I will be] looking forward to the world championships [in 2009]. After the world championships I will probably think about doing something else. I am not sure. Me and my coach will decide that when the time comes."

So for now, the world will just have to be content to marvel¹⁰ at the amazing and historic¹¹ double Olympic victory by Usain Bolt.

1 sprinter   

n.短跑运动员，短距离全速奔跑者

参考例句：

• He is more a sprinter than a swimmer. 他是短跑健将，而不是游泳选手。 来自辞典例句
• The sprinter himself thinks he can run the race at 9.4 seconds. 这位短跑运动员自认为可以用9.4秒跑完比赛。 来自互联网

2 cherished   

v.珍爱( cherish的过去式和过去分词 )；怀有；爱护；抚育

参考例句：

• Children need to be cherished. 儿童需要无微不至的爱护。
• She cherished a deep resentment under the rose towards her employer. 她暗中对她的雇主怀恨在心。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 accomplishments   

n.造诣；完成( accomplishment的名词复数 )；技能；成绩；成就

参考例句：

• It was one of the President's greatest accomplishments. 那是总统最伟大的成就之一。
• Among her accomplishments were sewing,cooking,playing the piano and dancing. 她的才能包括缝纫、烹调、弹钢琴和跳舞。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

4 shatter   

n.碎片，乱七八糟的状态；vt.打碎，破掉，散开；vi.打破，脱落

参考例句：

• I must shatter your hopes.我必须打破你的幻想。
• This power is strong enough to shatter complacency.这种力量足以打破自满情绪。

5 strides   

裤子； 大步( stride的名词复数 )； 步法； 步态； 进展

参考例句：

• The child could not keep up with his father's strides. 那个孩子跟不上他父亲的步子。
• That 70-year-old man walked into the park with vigorous strides. 那位七旬老人健步走进公园。

6 specialty   

n.(speciality)特性，特质；专业，专长

参考例句：

• Shell carvings are a specialty of the town.贝雕是该城的特产。
• His specialty is English literature.他的专业是英国文学。

7 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

8 holder   

n.持有者，占有者；(台，架等)支持物

参考例句：

• The holder of the office of chairman is reponsible for arranging meetings.担任主席职位的人负责安排会议。
• That runner is the holder of the world record for the hundred-yard dash.那位运动员是一百码赛跑世界纪录的保持者。

9 unprecedented   

adj.无前例的，新奇的

参考例句：

• The air crash caused an unprecedented number of deaths.这次空难的死亡人数是空前的。
• A flood of this sort is really unprecedented.这样大的洪水真是十年九不遇。

10 marvel   

vi.(at)惊叹vt.感到惊异；n.令人惊异的事

参考例句：

• The robot is a marvel of modern engineering.机器人是现代工程技术的奇迹。
• The operation was a marvel of medical skill.这次手术是医术上的一个奇迹。

11 historic   

adj.历史上著名的，具有历史意义的

参考例句：

• This is a historic occasion.这是具有重大历史意义的时刻。
• We are living in a great historic era.我们正处在一个伟大的历史时代。