Usain Bolt and Jamaica Set New World Record in 4x100

Usain Bolt, Yohan Blake, Nesta Carter, and Michael Frater pose with the new world record they set to win gold in the 4x100. (Kerim Okten)

In order to beat Usain Bolt, you have to be extraordinarily good. The U.S. men took one last shot at taking him down in the 4x100 relay. Americans Trell Kimmons, Justin Gatlin, Tyson Gay, and Ryan Bailey knew the task set before them was nearly impossible, but they would give it their best shot. Their best shot turned out to be very good. The U.S. time turned out to be 37.04 seconds, which tied the world record prior to the race. The problem was that wasn't good enough.

The Jamaicans were simply extraordinary once again. Nesta Carter, Michael Frater, Yohan Blake, and Usain Bolt ran a near flawless race to set a new world record of 36.84 seconds. While the world record was a team effort, it was one man who made all the difference. The Americans and Jamaicans were virtually tied going into the final exchange. That meant it was down to Bailey and Bolt. It soon became clear that it was all over. Bolt pushed through the finish line effortlessly in the lead.

For Usain Bolt, the world record was simply the icing on the cake of what he hoped to accomplish in London. In Beijing four years ago, he went a perfect three for three in gold medals. This summer Bolt did it again, winning gold in the 100m, 200m, and the 4x100 relay. He now has six gold medals in six Olympic races. Bolt has already declared himself a legend, but doesn't appear to be done just yet.

Due to the Jamaicans world record setting race, the Americans were forced to settle for silver. The Canadians had the third fastest time, but were disqualified for running outside their lane. This meant that Trinidad and Tobago became the bronze medalist. It hasn't just been the Jamaicans beating up on the Americans. The Caribbean islands in general on the rise. The Bahamas ended the United States' run of seven straight Olympic golds in the 4x400 relay. Now, Trinidad and Tobago made it on the medal stand in the 4x100 relay. The Americans better watch out because it isn't just the Jamaicans and them anymore.

Social media and sports talk are ablaze with what will Usain Bolt do in Rio de Janeiro in 2016. Can he sweep the golds again? Will he train for and run in the 400m? Is he the greatest athlete ever? Questions abound but for now Bolt has declined to answer. In my opinion, people should simply relish Bolt's accomplishments this summer. The Olympics only come around once every four years. I would prefer to appreciate the accomplishments of a man who did so much to prepare for these races. The bottomline is Usain Bolt is extraordinarily talented and successful.

Manteo Mitchell Breaks Leg But Still Finishes Leg of the Race

Despite breaking his leg half way through his leg, Manteo Mitchell endured the pain in order to complete his leg. (Kirby Lee) 

Running a relay race requires reliance between all members of the competing team. Without one of the runners, the race simply cannot be completed. One of the most important relay races for Team USA is the men's 4x400. After all, the Americans have won gold in the event every year since 1976, expect for the 1980 boycott. That means that Team USA had immense pressure to perform well in this race.

Being up first, American Manteo Mitchell knew that he had to set the pace for the rest of his team. At the 50m mark, his left ankle felt like it was cramping up. As Mitchell reached the 100m mark, his leg began to feel even stranger. Shortly following the 200m mark, he finally heard and felt the bone break. Rather then let his teammates down, Mitchell kept running as best he could. He still finished his leg in 45 seconds and handed the baton off to teammate Josh Mance. The American relay team finished the semifinal race tied for the fastest time with the Bahamas at two minutes and 58.87 seconds.

Mitchell's experience must have been excruciating. He explained what happened to reporters, "As soon as I took the first step past the 200m mark, I felt it break. I heard it. I even put out a little war cry, but the crowd was so loud you couldn't hear it. I wanted to just lie down. It felt like somebody literally just snapped my leg in half." However, Mitchell didn't give into his pain and stop. He pushed himself to complete his leg and get his teammate the baton to keep running.

Doctors confirmed that Mitchell broke his left fibula during the race. Three days prior, he had fallen going up stairs at Olympic Village. Mitchell landed awkwardly, but was cleared to race due to no apparent injuries. The race was obviously too much for the weakened bone. However, the broken bone was not too much to impede Mitchell from finishing. Without Mitchell's valiant efforts, the Americans wouldn't be in the 4x400 final. His courage and determination should be inspirational to us all.

Mo Farah Wins 10,000m Gold For Great Britain

Mo Farah's hard work paid off as he won the gold medal in the 10,000m for Great Britain. (Stu Forster)

Mo Farah was born in Somalia, but at a young age moved to London to live with his English father. He struggled in school, but excelled in athletics. A number of adults saw Farah's potential and made sacrifices to push him to succeed. He continued to be held back by a lack of motivation and poor lifestyle choices.

A transformation in Farah's life began after he lived with a group of Kenyans. They taught him the importance of commitment and hard work. Disappointment came for Farah in Beijing when he failed to qualify for the 5,000m final. He vowed to give everything to become the best in the world. In the 2010 European championship, Farah won double gold in the 5,000m and 10,000m, but his time in the latter was still more than two minutes slower than the world record.

In preparation for this summer's Olympics in Great Britain, he made the difficult decision to leave his wife and daughter to travel to Portland, Oregon to train with American runner Galen Rupp and coach Alberto Salazar. The two pushed each other to get stronger and stronger. Today was the day when they would find out if their hard work would pay off. With the Ethiopian Bekele brothers and Eritrean Zersenay Tadese among the favorites, Farah and Rupp knew they would have to run their best to have a shot at medaling.

As is expected with a long race like this, the pace started slow and got faster and faster as the race progressed. With the favorites among the leaders, it came down to the final lap to determine who would medal. That is when Farah and Rupp made their move. The duo took the lead as the British crowed cheered their countryman on. The Bekele brothers made a push to pass them, but it was too little too late.

Farah and Rupp came across the finish line as the gold and silver medal winners respectively. Elation was on both their faces as the two great friends embraced. Both made history with their accomplishment. Farah became the first Briton to win the event. Rupp became the first American to medal in the event since 1964. Ethiopian Tariku Bekele had to settle for third. Farah's gold medal was the coronation of a great day for the hosts. The joy on the faces of Mo Farah, his wife Tania, and seven-year-old daughter Rihanna was just the beautiful icing on the cake.