The 2015 World Athletic Championships

Is it me or is the BBC webpage for athletics simply rubbish? The main headline was again on Bolt and Gatlin in their semis. Didn't they bother to take any interest in the rest of today's events in Beijing as they unfolded. The way they portray a story is worse than the Sun. Perhaps the same can be said about its football page, it is worse than the Portsmouth News for sensationalism.

 

No I don't think so. Obviously, Bolt and Gatlin will take the main story. But just dive into the detail and you'll find the results. Don't expect stories from every race.

 

Zharnel Hughes in Lane 5. That is a good lane draw. If Bolt and Gatlin suffer from a bout of food poisoning, he could pick up the gold. As things stand he has a great chance of going sub 20 seconds and picking up a bronze.

 

What time is the 200 final?

EDIT - got it. 13:55,

 

My beloved Kenyans will win zilch today so a chance for the other nations to close the gap in the medals table.

 

1310 BST but I will check this out!

 

I just read 13:55....

 

Ignore my timing. Just rechecked and you are correct. You should compare the BBC coverage with the Spanish. Unlike the BBC they do not conduct interviews with any of the athletes after the race. Nor do they have studio guests analysing pre- and post- race which I quite like. Let the pictures themselves tell the story.

 

Can you have a word with another of your beloved Kenyans? Try and sort him out for us

 

So you can't watch the truly excellent Michael Johnson.?

 

When watching BBC I really enjoy listening to Colin Jackson, Michael Johnson (legend) and Denise Lewis plus of course the commentary of Steve Cram but this is different all the same. I'll see what I can do FLT!! Take the same action as Everton are with Stones!! The bid would have to be absolutely unbelievable to let him go.

 

That, Mr Gatlin, is what a champion looks like.

Bolt wins 200m in 19.56.

 

But he doesn't have to put up with Gabby Logan!

 

I think this afternoon we have witnessed some astonishing athletics. Perhaps the stand out achievement was Taylor's final leap in the triple jump from 17.60 to 18.21. Unbelievable!! What an astonishing 3rd heat in the ladies 800m. All runners well under 2 min. It was interesting to see the list of qualifiers for that final - all within 1.58.

And of course two great champions. Allyson Felix who is just so elegant in running and the beauty of her event was pulling the 2nd and 3rd placed athletes in under 50 secs. Finally congratulations to Usain Bolt for putting on a great show and also pulling out the best in the other runners. That is one of the legacies he will leave behind.

 

Take Bolt out of the equation and I think you would see all the runners at a tenth of a second slower. So thank you Usain for that!!

 

Moreover, thank you Usain for beating the cheats.

 

And for giving the Jamaicans in this house (well 1 and 2 that are 1/4 Jamaican!) something to shout about.

 

That was quite a party afterwards as Usain did his lap of honour. He was besieged. I was thinking of the young South African who came 3rd as he had a PB.

 

He is very easy to listen to and I like his style when he has to comment on a British athlete who may have only finished fifth (because he is working for a British TV company). He finds something encouraging to say with great charm.

 

Actually one of the things I like most about Michael Johnson is the fact that he treats all athletes the same regardless of their nationality. He'll praise the good ones to the skies and offer constructive criticism to the others. He does spend more time on the British athletes but isn't anything like as jingoistic as the British commentators. And he isn't at all jingoistic about the American athletes, unlike the vast majority of his compatriots.