legal sub-10s, also a record. In 1998 he added a Commonwealth silver in the 100, and gold and bronze in the 100 and 200 at the World Cup. The following year he added another World title to his credit with a win in the 200 at the World Indoor Championships.

Injury ruins two seasons

While still in top form, Injury restricted him to just one race in 2000, sidelining his Olympic gold aspirations. He came back in 2002 to win another Commonwealth 200 title before ending his season with a silver medal in the World Cup half lap. He finally showed signs of slowing in 2003, but still managed an early season best of 10.00 in Durban, and qualified for the World Championships final in the 200 in Paris wherehe finished seventh.

Calming influence

This year in Athens, the American trio of Shawn Crawford, Bernard Williams and Justin Gatlin proved too mighty a force for Fredericks, who would celebrate his 37th birthday on October 2. He finished a distant fourth, but his big stage swan song may be most remembered for his calming demeanor, a rare trait for the emotionally charged and explosive sprint events. When the otherwise celebratory crowd in Olympic Stadium disrupted the start of 200 metre final for several minutes, it was the image of Fredericks, projected onto the giant video screen in the stadium that eventually calmed them.

He spoke briefly with reporters after the race, fighting back the emotion of his final Olympic moment. "It is quite emotional," he said. "I always wanted to go