Sports heroes lost for words describing Bolt

By Paul Majendie

BEIJING (Reuters) - Australian cricketing great Steve Waugh had trouble finding enough superlatives to describe Usain Bolt's sprinting feats.

Australian track champion Cathy Freeman was literally lost for words and, unable to speak after losing her voice, had to scribble her reaction down on a piece of paper.

"Bolt, like Michael Johnson, took sprinting to another level, in fact human experience in general," she wrote.

A meeting in Beijing of past sporting heroes from Edwin Moses to Daley Thompson was the perfect chance to gauge what yesterday's champions thought of today's double world record holder in the 100m and 200m.

At a gathering in the Chinese capital of sporting ambassadors for the Laureus World Sports Academy, they were in awe over Bolt when questioned by Reuters.

Former Australian cricket captain Waugh said: "I was lucky enough to be in the stadium when he won the 100. That was one of the best sporting moments I have seen.

"He looks like a once-in-a-lifetime champion. He has got charisma which the sport really needs. It's scary how good he might become."

Hurdler and dual Olympic gold medalist Moses said: "He is an athlete who comes once in every five or six generations. There are very few people who can have that kind of impact."