High five for Athens at 100m

It was an amazing race with just four hundredths of a second separating the top four. Five finished inside 10 seconds in the most captivating 10 seconds at Athens.

IMPOSSIBLE IS nothing. It is a big word invented by small men.

This famous quote by boxing legend Mohammad Ali is plastered all over the stadiums, beer stalls, the city square and beaches of Athens. After that magical day on the Markopoulo hills when an Indian major kept his date with history, it grew on you, mesmerised you. But on Sunday night, as five men ran the 100 metres under 10 seconds, it dawned on you that ‘impossible is nothing.’

The quote greeted you for the hundredth time when you walked into the main Olympic stadium on the night that would decide who the fastest man in the world was.

At exactly 11 pm, the eight gladiators walked into the arena to some loud music and a louder roar from spectators.

They warmed up at the starting line, playing to the gallery as the music grew louder. It was the perfect stage for showmanship, to tell the world you are the best.

Maurice Greene revelled in all the attention. Kim Collins flashed his trademark smile and waved. Shawn Crawford and Justin Gatlin hugged each other and laughed nervously. Francis Obikwelu was very, very quiet.

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