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Greene has revealed how Usain Bolt's height forced him to adapt and adjust his running style in a way that suited his body, which modern athletes have mistakenly tried to copy-paste.
Maurice Greene, the iconic American sprinter and former 100 meters world record holder, has identified what he considers a fundamental error among modern sprinters attempting to follow in Usain Bolt’s footsteps.
Greene, who once set the world record with a blistering 9.79 seconds, believes athletes today have slowed their progress by focusing on emulating Bolt rather than honing their own unique strengths in training.
Greene, a four-time Olympic medalist and five-time World Champion, was a dominant force in sprinting throughout the late '90s and early 2000s.
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16:13 - 25.10.2024
'It's so much easier now' - Legendary former American sprinter Maurice Greene critiques modern sprinting standards
Maurice Greene critiques modern sprinting standards, calls conditions “easier” compared to his era.
His crowning moment came in 2001 at the World Championships in Edmonton, where he powered through a quadriceps injury to win his third consecutive 100 meters world title in 9.82 seconds.
The feat etched Greene's name among sprinting legends, showcasing his exceptional tenacity and reinforcing his place alongside greats like Carl Lewis.
Now retired, Greene has observed a noticeable shift in modern sprinting, particularly in the approach sprinters take to training. Speaking on Citius Mag last May, he expressed his frustration with how today's athletes approach their training regimes, attempting to copy Bolt’s technique without accounting for their own physical differences.
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16:30 - 23.10.2024
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Greene has slammed modern sprinters for misguided priorities despite the modern technology now in place to make them faster, which he believes have led to a lack of progression since the Usain Bolt days.
“Usain is 6’5” and has a turnover speed like mine, so he is turning over and covering more ground,” Greene explained.
“For someone that tall, it would normally take much longer to build up speed, but it didn’t take him longer. At 10, 20, or 30 meters, he is up with everyone else.” Greene highlighted that Bolt’s anomaly lay in his unique ability to match shorter sprinters’ turnover speed despite his height, giving him a stride length advantage that few could replicate.
Bolt's athletic foundation was built through years as a 400-meter runner before transitioning to his preferred 200 meters and eventually the 100 meters.
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08:00 - 19.10.2024
'I would never let him beat me'- American legend Maurice Greene on how rivalry with Tim Montgomerry shaped his legacy
Greene once ran an insane 9.82 race to win the 2001 100 meter world title despite limping to the finish line to finish ahead of Montgommery.
His background provided him with a developed endurance base, helping him sustain top-end speed for longer stretches and maximize his stride length.
“Trying to copy what Bolt did is misguided,” Greene stated, urging modern sprinters to focus on maximizing their own attributes.
“You cannot look at what he has done. You have to look at what you can do to try and make the most of every step and come out on top. You cannot do it the same way he did. You do not have the levers.”
Greene’s advice is a reminder that Bolt's success was as much about his exceptional physical attributes as it was about his training, and that for today’s sprinters, chasing the Jamaican legend’s records may require a more personalized approach.
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