Bolt was often put to the test

BEIJING - Hard work. Having fun. A fast track.

No doping.

Simple as could be, that's Usain Bolt's explanation for his breakout performance at the Beijing Olympics.

"I've been tested four times [in China], before I even started running. These guys took urine tests and blood tests. After every event final, I've been tested," the Jamaican said yesterday, one of his three gold medals dangling from a red ribbon around his neck. "I've been tested out of competition so many times I lost track."

Bolt set world records in winning the 100 meters (9.69 seconds), 200 meters (19.30), and 400-meter relay (37.10), something no man had done at an Olympics. None of the finals was even close, and Bolt began his celebration in the 100 before it was done, stretching his arms with palms up, then slapping his chest.

"I came out here prepared," he said. "I worked hard - that's all I can say. I worked hard to get here. It wasn't easy at all. It may look easy, but it was hard."

Bolt wasn't merely good - he was stunning. Too good to be true?

Don Anderson, head of Jamaica's delegation, said about half the country's athletes had been drug-tested in China. "That, as far as I am concerned, is more than adequate proof," he said.