The only person in Rio’s Olympic stadium not watching Usain Bolt

ONE particular Australian athlete found out the hard way at the Rio Olympics that the world stops for Usain Bolt.

Australia's Brooke Stratton in the Women's Long Jump Final at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Picture: Phil Hillyard

BROOKE Stratton found out the hard way that the world stops for Usain Bolt.

The Australian long jumper was on the runway preparing for her crucial fifth leap in the Olympic final as the fastest man on the planet was on the blocks for the 200m semi-finals.

There was never any doubt who was going to win this battle.

The red cone which officials place in front of the long jump board in between jumps remained there as the entire stadium turned to watch one man.

Stratton was the only one who didn’t, instead bouncing around with her head down trying to focus on getting further up the leaderboard.

Australia's Brooke Stratton in the Women's Long Jump Final at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Picture: Phil Hillyard

She’d dealt with delays before at inconvenient times a few years ago at the World Youth Championships.

“A little while ago at world youths the same thing happened, they brought out a medal ceremony and I got a bit frustrated because I was ready to jump and had to wait,” Stratton said.

“I learnt from that and composed myself. I didn’t watch (Bolt), I concentrated on what I was there to do.”

She then quickly added: “He’s an incredible athlete though.”

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After getting over the Bolt distraction, Stratton finished seventh in her debut at the Olympic Games with a best leap of 6.74m.

The 23-year-old Victorian, who set a new Australian record of 7.05m earlier this year, believes the Rio experience will pay off in years to come.

“I can’t really complain with seventh tonight,” Stratton said. “I would have liked to have jumped a little bit further but I gave it everything I had in me tonight and 6.74m was the best I could do.

“I would have had to of jumped a PB to have medalled but it was incredible to be there and watch those jumpers jump what they did.

“I was pretty consistent in the 60s, that is obviously not good enough at a world level but I’m only 23 and hopefully I will be at the next Olympics and be ready to go a little bit better.”

Australia's Brooke Stratton finished seventh in the women’s long jump final at the Rio Olympics. Picture. Phil Hillyard

Stratton, who didn’t get out of qualifying at last year’s world championships, had her first taste of Europe’s Diamond League competition this season which has opened her eyes to what is possible in the future.

“I learnt that I belong out there,” she said. “I know I can match it with the best jumpers in the world if I can jump around the seven metre mark.

“I can’t complain with the season I have had and to place seventh tops off a great season.”

Reigning world champion Tianna Bartoletta took the gold with a career best leap of 7.17m from her American teammate Brittney Reese (7.15m) with Serbia’s Ivana Spanovic producing a national record of 7.08m for bronze.

Originally published as The only person in Rio’s Olympic stadium not watching Usain Bolt