Bolt is human; his sport's rules are not

What a dumb rule. Other rules may have problems, but no second chance is just dumb, dumb, dumb.

Here is an idea: anyone who jumps the gun gets a second chance, but the race continues as is. The second chance comes after that race, and if it has them running alone, so be it. They mess that up, and then they are done. If its a long race, start them out while the others are going in a way that does not disturb them. Run them on their own clock.

Or, if technology can handle it, just let the race go on if its only a fraction of a second and deduct that from their final time.

Bad rule. Happened to quite a number of other racers too, not just him.

its rule, get used to it. In the past there were 2nd chances & runners ABUSED it!

Now its do or die, the way it shud be, if this was the 15th ranked runner there wudnt even be an article.

You jump the gun, yr out, seems good to me, he has tons of races to race, no biggie

@GW

It used to be that everyone got two chances. There was no abuse then. That system got scrapped because the TV stations complained that races were taking too long and taking up too much advertising time. Gotta love that unbridled capitalism....

@lucabrasi

There was abuse then as well. Some racers were using that extra chance to put psychological pressure on their opponents. Ironically, this one-chance rule was put in place to eliminate that and protect people like Bolt.

I would not support a change in the rule. I think it is nice to see even the most professional athletes can make mistakes. I enjoyed the race even if Bolt was not there.

if this was the 15th ranked runner there wudnt even be an article.

Agree.

It seems people are complaining that the person everyone thought was going to win, didn't. But if it's a foregone conclusion, what's the point in holding the race in the first place? It isn't just about running fast, it's about getting the whole thing right. About not giving in to nerves. This time, he didn't. So someone else got a shot at glory. I would have thought that made the whole thing more interesting, not less. If he doesn't want his Daddy travelling long distances to see him run and then be disappointed instead, he needs to work on his starts.

Kronos

There have been three different sets of rules, I think:

1) Everyone got two chances. One warning and then disqualification. No opportunities for mind-games. This was when the TV companies complained about the time taken to run the races, which led to the first change:

2) Only one warning was given to one athlete. After that, whoever made the next false start was disqualified; whether they had earned the warning or not was irrelevant. This rule led to mind-games and abuse and so was changed.

3) Now, nobody gets a warning, which leads to events like yesterday's.

The original system was definitely the best. I still blame the TV companies. They have too much power in sport. Look at the way they mess with the English Premier League football schedules to suit their own.

Lots of complaints about the rule when the advertising drawcard gets the chop. It's about money.

This guy makes $300, 000 USD just to show up to these matches? Now he is crying because he blew it? What an idiot! I am glad he messed up and I hope somebody breaks his arrogant ass making a new world record!

Good rule - and the same one swimmers go by. It was abused in the past hence the changing. Suck it up.

@ Elbuda Jealous much? Once you're the best in the world at something, you will be paid the same way. He was leading the entire game up to the finals and then has a mis-start and is disqualified. It is arguable whether or not this is a good rule. I personally think that one false start should be allowed.

Actually Ramzel, that isn't true. Look a how mucj Murofushi gets paid and look at how much Bolt gets paid. Heck, why not look at the women's soccer team salary. They get paid less then the j guys even though they rank number one and the men... well... no where close.

tmarie,

Just a tidbit: they're not rank #1, but they did win the WWC.

How are they not ranked number one now? Regards, Morifushi's earning vs Bolt's.... Murofushi has been around a hell of a lot longer and has been in the top three - and number one - for ages. He's certainly doesn't get that kind of money.

tmarie,

AFAIK, ranking is based on points earned on a rolling 4-year calendar - Japan just hasn't won as much tournaments over 4 years. It's like that guy Yohan Blake who won the 100m World Track Championship after Bolt got DQed - if there was a ranking, Bolt would still be ranked #1 because Blake just hasn't won as much as Bolt did in the last 4 years.

Well yeah, Bolt was DQd so didn't lose. The women were in 4th going in, are second. It still doesn't change the fact that Bolt gets more than Murofushi. Number one in something doesn't mean you are rich.

Tmarie - yes, yes it does. Youre talking about 4th and 2nd, not first. First in most popular disciplines means youre going to earn a lot.

I need to emphasize popular... Like for instance Japan has some of the greatest ping pong players, as well as ice skaters, but only the ice skaters make bank.

Okay, compare the women's first place team vs the men's first place team. The pay is shockingly different and the women don't make that much. You seriously don't seem to want to get the point. i have given you various examples which you are ignoring.

I have to emphasize most and popular again. Womens soccer/football isn't as popular as mens. However if you look at ice skating, it is the opposite and women have the advantage. I am not ignoring any of your examples.

Funny, I don't think you said popular in your OP - which was my point.

Table tennis is huge in Asia but I don't think they make the same money either...

Bolt knew the rules, he broke them. His problem.

Notice how the people arguing against the rule are doing so on the basis that 'you can't disqualify Usain Bolt!'

Two british athletes were disqualified the day before, and no fuss was raised at all. But when the headline act has to go, then people are suddenly all about fairness.