Bolt breaks 100m indoors 'world record' in Warsaw

Usain Bolt (C) wins the 100m at the National Stadium in Warsaw, with fellow Jamaican Sheldonem Mitchellem (R) and Pole Karol Zalewski (L). Photo: PAP/ Bartlomiej Zborowski

The record is unofficial as 100 metres indoors is usually run over 60 metres.

The stadium's roof had been closed for the annual Kamila Skolimowska Memorial event, named after a hammer thrower and Olympic gold medallist who died at the age of 26.

The Jamaican sprinter, who has been dubbed 'the Lightning Bolt', had said prior to Saturday's race that he would be “angry” if he did not run under 10 seconds in Warsaw.

“Above all I wanted to get through this season without any injury as I've suffered enough over the past few years,” he said after winning the 100m.

“Over the next meetings starting with Zurich [Diamond League] I'm hoping to run ever quicker,” he added.

Bolt told the crowd of 20,000 that had assembled at the National Stadium that he would be back to run again in the Polish capital.

The record for the rarely run indoors distance of 100m was previously held by Namibian sprinter Frankie Fredericks, who managed 10.05 seconds in 1996.

Bolt remains the holder of the outdoors 100m record, having run an astonishing 9.58 seconds at the World Championships in Berlin in 2009.

Usain Bolt greets fans at National Stadium in Warsaw. Photo: PAP/ Bartlomiej Zborowski

The Kamila Skolimowska Memorial Meet has attracted many stars from the world of athletics since it was first held in 2010.

Hammer-thrower Kamila Skolimowska was one of Poland's brightest talents in athletics, winning gold at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney.

However, she died during a training session in 2009 at the tender age of 26, as a result of pulmonary embolism, which entails a blockage of the main artery of the lung.

A foundation dedicated to Skolimowska was set up the following year, with the aim of promoting athletics among the young. (nh/pg)

Source: PAP/IAR