An Olympic Marvel

 

 

Who is the fastest in the world?

I know who got your vote,

It was no other, I am sure,

Than the fleet-footed Usain Bolt.

 

And the time he ran

That made him the all-time great

Was a jaw-stopping, foot-stomping

Nine point five eight. (9.58s)

 

Achieved back in 2009,

That record still stands today

And his competition, though fierce,

Was kept at bay.

 

But this is not the marvel

That I really want to highlight,

Rather, I want to highlight another:

That of team fight.

 

 

The fastest team in the world

Contains the fastest man

And I do not have to ask the question,

You know it’s Jamaican.

 

A mind-boggling 36.84 seconds

As four men scorched the track,

Of the skill pertaining to this event

There was no noticeable lack.

 

Four men with varying abilities

Ran as though one man,

None feeling he was better than the four

Thus, sticking to the team plan.

 

Do the math, I implore you

And divide 36.84 by 4

And you will discover, if I am correct,

That 100m took Bolt 0.37sec more.

 

 

On average the four ran 9.21

While Bolt’s fastest was 9.58,

Therein is the marvel I highlight

Bolt’s time is not as great.

 

No one man, however great,

Is nearly as good as his relay team,

Bolt knew this and together the four

Achieve their World dream.

 

Not one of us is as good

As all of us put together,

A team can achieve more than one man

By its collective endeavor.

 

Four men together ran 9.21 seconds

While the fastest man ran 9.58,

I submit, Usain Bolt compared to the four,

Was not nearly as great.

 

 

The fastest man, you see, 

Is not as fast as the fastest team,

Such a feat can never be achieved

Even in a dream.

 

Stewart Russell © February 19, 2023