Why doesn't Usain Bolt put any effort into the last 10m of the 100m sprint ?

Question

I know hes already winning by a mile with 10-20m to go but his finishing times would improve if he just put in his maximum effort for the entire sprint.

Is it because hes arrogant?

Answer 1

I think it's time to let this one drop.

Answer 2

If you got 50,000 every time you broke the world would you run flat out if you already had it won after 50 metres.

Answer 3

Because he does it. Maybe not on purpose but maybe because he thhinks arr we have won so lets chill or maybe hes tired.

Put him in a race where hes equal and he wont relax

Answer 4

I don't think it mattered to be honest, he knew he was going to win when he was there and beat his previous record (9.72) which he had set as a world record, so he probably didnt care, in an interview he said it wasn't about times it was about winning and getting gold. Props to him.

Answer 5

yeah coz he's arrogant. maybe he just wanted to set a record and then break it again in 2012. if he can get 9.69 or whatever without even trying, he could cut AT LEAST 5 seconds off that time. no exaggeration...well maybe a little.

Answer 6

No it's because he won the race, that's what gets the medal

Answer 7

Being arrogant is part and parcel of being a 100m sprinter, that's what they do !!

As for the lack of effort, he didn't push himself on the last 10-20m because he didn't have to.  He could see in his peripheral vision that he was in the lead so eased up, he didn't need to do anymore than what he was doing, and probably didn't want to run (excuse the pun) the risk of a stress injury pushing himself when he really didn't need to.

The 100m race was not the one he wanted.  Bolt is a 200m sprinter and that's the race he went to Beijing to win so the 200m race is the one he put his heart into and as it happened he got golds and world records on both.  

Yeah, it sure was disappointing from a spectator point of view to watch such a natural athlete not pushing himself and getting the best results he possibly could, but Bolt would have been absolutely heartbroken if he'd suffered an injury in the 100m and was then unable to compete in his preferred race the 200m

Answer 8

100m sprint is very short, approximately lasting 10 seconds. Within 10 seconds, all your 4 years of training will show and will ultimately shape your future. It's an emotional race, with Bolt receiving a lot of hype and a very intimidating opponent, Powell. But nobody expected Bolt to beat his opponents with such a big margin, and he was overjoyed in his first Olympicc event in Beijing. So I would understand why he started posing before the race ended.

Answer 9

At least this way by relaxing in the last 15m he can break the world record multiple times. When he goes flat out. He probably has the potential to run 9.3.

Answer 10

If you didn't know, he can get money from his country for breaking the world record (incentive). So, since he doesn't have to go all in for a world record, he can run harder next time(break another world record) and get even more money.

He was probably a little arrogant, but why not, he dominated!