MEDIA RELEASE PR35728
'Lightning' Bolt Strikes Again at 12th IAAF World Championships In Athletics in Berlin, Breaking His
Own World Record
BERLIN, Aug. 17 /PRNewswire-AsiaNet/ --
Three-time Jamaican Olympic gold medalist and PUMA athlete Usain
'Lightning' Bolt shattered his own world record and delivered a stunning
first place finish in the 100m on Sunday night at the Olympic Stadium in
Berlin, cementing his title as the "Fastest Man in the World". The clear
favorite, Bolt surged ahead of his components and clocked the fastest time
ever recorded for the 100m race, 9.58 seconds. He edged out rivals Tyson Gay
and Asafa Powell, shattering his previous record of 9.69 seconds set at the
Beijing Summer Olympic Games in 2008. The Jamaican sprinter raced to victory
in his custom-designed Theseus Pro sprint spike, dubbed the PUMA YAAM, now
considered the fastest shoes in the world.
The much anticipated race was a showdown between Bolt, the United States'
defending world champion, Tyson Gay, and fellow Jamaican sprinter Asafa
Powell. In an intense race, Usain Bolt exploded out of the starting block and
powered past the pack, running hard through the end. The crowds erupted at
the finish. Bolt showed more fancy footwork when he broke out in a dance
during his victory lap. Gay secured a second place finish with a time of 9:71
and Powell took third with a time of 9:84.
"This is what I've been training for all year. The shoes kept me going. I
felt really good going into the race," said an ecstatic Usain Bolt just after
crossing the finish line. "The weather was perfect for me. The fans gave me
so much energy tonight. I just kept my focus and relaxed. It was 'game on!'"
"The excitement surrounding this race was unparalleled and the
competition was as rigorous as it's ever been," said Jochen Zeitz, CEO and
Chairman of PUMA AG. "Everyone was at the top of their game. But to see Usain
light up the track as he did and emerge with a 9.58 finish, shattering his
own world record...it's a moment that will live in history. Usain continues
to push the limits of speed and power, in his uniquely joyful style. A lot of
energy went into the creation of the PUMA YAAM spike he wore on track.
Clearly, we've found the right formula for a winning shoe. We are thrilled to
have Usain as part of our PUMA family and congratulate him on his #1 finish
and new world record."
The PUMA YAAM sprint spike that propelled him to victory was developed by
a team of PUMA designers and technicians who studied and measured Bolt's
stride and foot form. With this information and ongoing track-testing, they
created a custom-made sprint spike that best suits Usain's unique body
kinetics. The vibrant orange color was chosen to contrast Olympic Stadium's
signature blue track. The shoe is designed to provide power, speed and
stability. The "engine" of the show is a carbon plate, which adds speed and
power but no weight. PUMA has also designed an athletic, low-profile version
of Usain's signature track spike, called the PUMA STREET YAAM, which will be
available at select retail locations later in the year.
Also making its debut in Berlin are the "Bolt Arms," PUMA's
custom-designed fan accessory that mimics the athlete's famous "Lightning
Bolt" victory pose from the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Viral videos of the Foam
On August 23rd, at the conclusion of the World Champs, PUMA will take
over the YAAM, a popular Caribbean lounge on the banks of the Spree River for
a vibrant Jamaican-themed party that's open to the public, via ticket sales.
Live music, dancing, food and special athlete appearances will make it an
occasion to remember. On the heels of the YAAM party, Usain Bolt is scheduled
to make a brief appearance to sign autographs at the PUMA Flagship Store,
located at Tauentzienstrasse, 18 in Berlin on Monday, August 24 at 14:00. For
PUMA
PUMA is one of the world's leading Sportlifestyle companies that designs
and develops footwear, apparel and accessories. It is committed to working in
ways that contribute to the world by supporting Peace, Creativity, and SAFE
Sustainability, and by staying true to the values of being Fair, Honest,
Positive and Creative in decisions made and actions taken. PUMA starts in
Sport and ends in Fashion. Its Sport Performance and Lifestyle labels include
categories such as Football, Running, Motorsports, Golf and Sailing. The
Black label features collaborations with renowned designers such as Alexander
McQueen, Yasuhiro Mihara and Sergio Rossi. The PUMA Group owns the brands
PUMA, Tretorn and Hussein Chalayan. The company, which was founded in 1948,
distributes its products in more than 120 countries, employs more than 9,000
people worldwide and has headquarters in Herzogenaurach/Germany, Boston,
London and Hong Kong. For more information, please visit www.puma.com
SOURCE: PUMA
CONTACT: Sara Gottman, PUMA,
Mobile: +1-978-996-4441,
sara.gottman@puma.com,
Clara Mattioli, PUMA,
Mobile: +49-151-551-15335,
clara.mattioli@puma.com, or
Vivienne Raesserts, PUMA,
Mobile: +49-170-5658-186,
vivienne.raesserts@puma.com
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