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Usain Bolt: The Freeze ‘too quick for me’

By OlympicTalkMar 30, 2018, 8:47 AM EDT
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Usain Bolt wants no part of The Freeze.

When somebody asked if the viral Atlanta Braves promotion speedster was actually Bolt in costume, the fastest man of all time chimed in to deny it in an interesting way.

“Too quick for me,” followed by two crying laughing emojis was tweeted from Bolt’s account in response to a thread that included video of The Freeze’s win in the Braves’ Opening Day “Beat the Freeze” race at SunTrust Park from NBC Sports Philadelphia.

After he went viral last season, The Freeze was identified as Nigel Talton, a sprinter whose personal best in the 100m was 10.47 seconds. That ranks No. 4,791 all time, according to Tilastopaja.org.

Bolt’s world record is 9.58 seconds. In more than 80 career 100m races, Bolt’s slowest was 10.40 seconds. Apparently, Bolt feels he has lost significant speed in retirement, though he has been doing plenty of soccer training.

Talton would like to go to an Olympics. His personal bests are not quite quick enough to make a U.S. track and field team, but he took part in a USA Bobsled and Skeleton off-ice camp last summer.

VIDEO: Bolt scores goal, PK at Borussia Dortmund training

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Israel, judo federation hail letter from Iran; Tehran silent

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Associated PressMay 12, 2019, 9:40 AM EDT
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DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — A letter from Iran over judo rules is being heralded by Israel and the International Judo Federation as a sign the Islamic Republic will allow its athletes to compete against Israelis.

However, Iranian media outlets on Sunday called the response “baseless” and “strange.” Iran’s local judo federation did not immediate answer calls for comment.

Iranian judoka, like other athletes, routinely forfeit matches with Israelis as Iran does not recognize Israel as a country.

The International Judo Federation posted the letter from Iran on Saturday night, which said Iran would “fully respect the Olympic Charter and its nondiscrimination principle,” without elaborating.

Moshe Ponte, the head of the Israeli Judo Association, told The Associated Press he welcomed “this courageous and correct decision” by the International Judo Federation to publish the letter.

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Noah Lyles, U.S. take 4x100m silver at World Relays

By OlympicTalkMay 12, 2019, 8:07 AM EDT
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Israel, judo federation hail letter from Iran; Tehran silent U.S. sweeps mixed-gender events at IAAF World Relays Nathan Adrian Nathan Adrian sets swim meet return from testicular cancer

Noah Lyles anchored the U.S. 4x100m to silver on an upset-filled final day of the IAAF World Relays in Yokohama, Japan, on Sunday.

Lyles, the early 2020 Olympic 200m favorite, was given the baton in around fifth place after a poor previous exchange from Justin Gatlin to Isiah Young. He passed France, China and Great Britain but could not catch Brazil, coming up .02 short.

The Americans were also beaten in the men’s and women’s 4x400m and the women’s 4x200m.

U.S. champion Aleia Hobbs anchored the women’s 4x100m, holding off Jamaican Jonielle Smith, 43.27 to 43.29. The event lacked Olympic and world champions Tori Bowie, Elaine Thompson and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce.

IAAF World Relays: Full Results

Poland upset the U.S. women in the 4x400m as Courtney Okolo could not make up all of an eight tenths deficit on anchor, coming up .16 short. The Americans were without Olympic silver medalist Allyson Felix, working her way back from childbirth, and world champion Phyllis Francis.

Trinidad and Tobago overtook the U.S. on anchor in the men’s 4x400m, edging to the win by .03 before the U.S. was disqualified for a lane violation.

The U.S. did take the mixed-gender 4x400m, which makes its Olympic debut in Tokyo.

The track and field season continues with the Diamond League stopping in Shanghai on Saturday.

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