The young Goliath of 200-metre running has installed himself as the gold-medal favourite for the Athens Olympics this summer.

In 19.93 seconds yesterday, Usain Bolt of Jamaica destroyed and rewrote an array of records with a ruthless demonstration of power and speed as he made a mockery of the Under-20 Boys 200-metre final on the last evening of the Carifta Games.

Disposing of his rivals with his first five large steps out of the blocks, it was the 17-year-old against himself and the clock as he cleared the bend and stormed to a victory, the likes of which had never been witnessed on Bermudian soil.

It was absolute staggering!

This giant of a boy ? just shy of six-foot-five in height ? had the National Sports Centre in total shock and uproar. The deafening ovation echoed from the rafters indicating that all, even athletics neophytes, appreciated the magnitude of what they had just seen.

In his lightning-fast wake, Bolt sent world, national and Carifta landmarks tumbling as he blitzed to a new world junior record ? eclipsing the 20.13 seconds which he previously shared with American Roy Martin ? as well as a new Carifta mark. He had set the Games bar at 20.43 seconds last year.

En route, he smashed the Jamaican junior and senior 200-metre records. He held the junior mark with 20.13 and the latter (19.86 seconds) had been held by former Olympic 200-metre winner Don Quarrie since August, 1971.

His 19.93 seconds is also this year?s world-leading time for that event and would have left sprinters across the globe agog.

?I was a little surprised but not too surprised because I have been training hard but so far I haven?t fully pushed myself,? said the unassuming athlete of his phenomenal achievement which sent ominous shockwaves across the athletics world.

?I?m like halfway (in my training) because I?m working towards the Olympics so I?m going to put a little bit more training in.

?That was my main goal for the year ? to go under 20 seconds ? and I?ve got it early so I think I have to get another goal now.?

His laid-back, friendly personality totally contrasting his on-track devastation, Bolt ? who repeated as winner of the Austin Sealy Award for Carifta?s top athlete ? said he simply ?thought about what my coach said and tried to keep my focus?.

As for whether he thinks it makes him the one to beat in the Olympics, he candidly replied: ?Well, yes I think so. I think I?m the leader in the world in the 200 metres so that puts me in a very good position to get into the top three.?

Bolt praised the track on which he blazed to success, saying it?s bouncy nature helped his acceleration down the home stretch.

The sport?s new wonder boy announced plans to bypass college and ?go pro? shortly on the European Grand Prix circuit prior to his two major assignments for 2004: defending his world junior crown in Italy and the Olympics.

?In athletics you can get injured and be out for a year so it?s important to make the most of it while you?re healthy and doing well.

?I?m glad to be young and successful and I?m going to enjoy it. Everybody knows I?m humble so I?m just taking the spotlight easy right now and having fun out there,? said Bolt who switched from cricket to athletics on his coach?s advice at 13 years-old.

Superlatives were in full flow as athletics officials sought to describe the teen sensation?s stunning performance.

?It?s the crown jewel of this meet. It?s a great meet which will go down as one in which a world (junior) record was set. There have only been four world records set in the whole Caribbean and here we?ve got another one,? declared Vice President of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) Dr. Amadeo Francis.

?I?m surprised to see a performance like that so early in the year because if that?s what he is doing now he is going to be a contender for the Olympic finals. Boy, they better be careful!?

President of the Jamaican Amateur Athletic Association (JAAA) Pat Anderson said, given the excellent calibre of the Games here, ?the Bermudian people deserved this?.

?Somebody like Bolt comes once in a lifetime. He is fantastic. These Games have been organised so well . . . it?s fitting that a world record was created here.?

Jamaican team manager Trevor Campbell said Bolt was ?out of this world? and noted only time would tell ?how fast he can run?.

However, he said they were being cautious not to pressure the 200-metre heir apparent with talk of surpassing the 19.32-second world record held by American Michael Johnson since the 1996 Olympics because ?he is still a kid?.

Yet, he too signalled that great feats will be forthcoming from Bolt as he reacted to yesterday?s accomplishment.

?I was not surprised. He hasn?t run yet.?