Johnson: Bolt needs better technique

Former double World-record holder and Olympic champion Michael Johnson is convinced that sprint sensation Usain Bolt could go even faster if and when he is able to correct a few mechanical flaws.

The American, analysing footage of Bolt's 100m triumph in Beijing, along with his high-performance director Lance Walker, believes the young sprinter still has a long way to go in terms of refining his sprinting technique.

"His lateral movement is horrible," Johnson the athlete turned coach, was quoted as saying on The Guardian website (www.guardian. co.uk/sport).

"That's why you see that side-to-side movement from him as he gets out and up into his maximum velocity, the sides of his body are collapsing as opposed to having good efficient technique up top."

"His entire side of his body is collapsing, so he's not able to strike and recover. He's losing a lot of time there."

Johnson, who still holds the 400m world record, saw his 200m record of 19.32 erased by Bolt at the Beijing Olympics with a new mark of 19.30. The lanky sprinter erased his own mark a year later, setting a new record of 19.19 at the Berlin World Championships.

Bolt's exploits in the 100 metres over the last few years have been just as impressive. In 2008, the athlete set a new world record in the 100m, replacing countryman Asafa Powell's previous world best of 9.74 with a time of 9.72. At the Beijing Games, Bolt lowered that mark to 9.69, before going even lower at Berlin World Championships where he ran an astonishing 9.58.

Based on his analysis, a part of Bolt's advantage in the 100m event has to do with him being able to achieve angles coming out of the blocks, that traditionally taller sprinter have been unable to achieve.

"He's able to come out of there [the blocks] and achieve the type of angles that these guys are," Johnson said analysing the footage. Having stayed with the field up until 20 metres, once the sprinter straightens up he is tough to beat the rest of the way.

"By 20m the race is already over," Johnson was quoted as saying.