FOR A man who had just run 200 metres in 19.3 seconds, getting to explain how he did it took an awful long time. In fact when Usain Bolt finally reached the press conference room under the Bird’s Nest stadium last night it suddenly dawned on him he was a year older. “Double Olympic champion, and double world record holder, at 21 . . .” and he paused, looked over at a clock on the wall, and realised it was just past midnight, “Actually I’m 22 now. Because today’s my birthday.”

And then he laughed to himself, as if realising the near absurdity of it all. Usain Bolt, out of Sherwood Content, Jamaica, just turned 22, straight to number one on the all-time chart of great Olympic performances. And he can sing it and he can dance it.

Because if his 9.69 world record in winning the 100-metre title last Saturday didn’t already confirm Bolt’s status as the fastest man on earth, then his 19.3 world record to win the 200-metre title unquestionably did. Michael Johnson’s mark of 19.32 had stood untested since the Olympic final of 1996, the next best being the 19.62 of his US compatriot Tyson Gay last year.

Earlier yesterday, Johnson went to some lengths to explain why he believed Bolt would not break his record: Bolt still had developing to do. What he didn’t realise was how badly Bolt wanted it.

“Aye, I’ve been saying all season, to everybody, that the 200 means a lot more to me than the 100 metres. So this one means a lot to me, because I’ve been dreaming of this since I was like, yah-high? So it means a lot, lot more to me, actually, than the 100 metres. The 200 has been my love since I was 15. I was the youngest to win the world junior title in it, and it’s dear to my heart. I’ve always loved the 200 metres.

“It was different with the 100, because I had that record already, so all I wanted to do was win. But I went out there tonight thinking I wanted to leave everything on the track, and I did just that. I knew I could go that fast. I’ve shown the potential all season, running fast times, shutting down. So it’s not a big surprise. The only surprise is I did it after seven rounds. But I told myself before if I was going to get the world record it had to be here.

“So it means a lot to me, but also the country also. I just talked to the prime minister, and he told me everywhere in Jamaica is blocked off. Everyone is in the streets. I’ve written history, pretty much, so I’m happy with myself, real proud.”

That he’s written history is unquestionable: the first Olympic sprint double since Carl Lewis in 1984, but the first Olympic sprint double achieved with a double world record.

It wasn’t just he did it, but how he did it: his celebratory dance around the track, with three Jamaican flags around his shoulders and a reggae tune blasting from the stadium speakers eclipsing even the blockbuster moment of his 100-metre record.

Even more than the shorter race, the other seven runners didn’t get a look in. When they’d all crossed the line, Churandy Martina of Dutch Antilles was a distant second in 19.82, with Wallace Spearmon of the US given third.

Spearmon was, however, disqualified for stepping on his inside line. The Americans appealed, claiming Martina had done the same, so in the end he was disqualified too, the silver ending up with the defending champion, Shawn Crawford, in 19.96, and the other American, Walter Dix, moving up to third.

By then, Bolt was enjoying his trademark dance, pointing to the sky as if stretching a bow and arrow. So what does it mean, he was finally asked: “Well that’s actually a dance in Jamaica. I just made it my celebration, so it’s like . . . ” And he pulls that great pose again. “To the world!”

And where does a just-turned-22 double Olympic and world record holder go now?

“Right now? I just want to chill out, go to sleep. I wish I was in Sandals right now (the popular resort in Jamaica), just taking a weekend. But I’ve got one more to go, in the 4x100 relay, and I know the guys are also looking forward to it. So I’m just trying to refocus, again, to get one more gold medal.”

The next question was whether Bolt would target Johnson’s remaining world record, his 43.18 for 400 metres.

“Well, a lot of people compare me to Michael Johnson. But I don’t compare myself a lot to other people. I try to be just me, myself . . . But I don’t want to say anything too serious about the 400, because my coach may want to get me to run one. But anything is possible, if I put my mind to it, to work hard like I did this season . . . All I’m looking forward to is going to bed and getting up in the morning to let it soak in I’m a double gold medallist. Don’t hold your breath. Because I don’t think I’ll be going up to the 400 any time soon.”

Johnson, Bolt was told, had just called him Superman II. As a parting question, an American journalist asked how does Superman II compare to Michael Phelps. “Well, I’m Lightning Bolt. I’m not Flash Gordon, or anybody.

“My name is Lightning Bolt. I can’t compare myself to Michael Phelps. He swims. He’s a great athlete, to win eight gold medals. But I’m on the track, he’s on the water. So you can’t really compare.”

As if it hadn’t already been the perfect night for Jamaica, Melaine Walker followed up Bolt by winning the 400-metre hurdles in 52.64 – and Olympic record. Walker’s not a bad dancer either.