In fact, it was not even part of Usain Bolt's normal routine until he pleaded with his coach to let him try it.

Always known as a ringer at 200m, Bolt even conceded that part of the plan to bring the 100m into his repertoire was to get out of running the more taxing and less enjoyable 400m.

His coach, Glen Mills, finally relented. Bolt got his way.

And now, even though it was never part of his grand plan, he is the new world record-holder - with a time of 9.72 seconds after a remarkable run on a perfect Saturday night in New York.

'I've been asking for two years to give me a chance,' Bolt said. 'He gave me a chance last year to run one 100m race, and I had a 10.03sec.

'Then he decided, 'Hey, let's try this and see what we can do.' I showed him what I can do in the 100 now.'

To most in the athletics world, this record-setting surge has come as a bolt from out of the blue.

The former world record-holder, Jamaica's Asafa Powell (9.74sec), is a household name among athletics fans.

America's best sprinter, Tyson Gay, also has that kind of name recognition.

Bolt, meanwhile, was a 200m guy. Sunday's race, after all, was only the fifth 100m in his professional career.

He started running in primary school although his first love was cricket.

After competing for his parish of Trelawny at the annual national primary schools meeting, his coach convinced him to pursue athletics. That year, he entered William Knibb High School.

When he was 15, he won the 200m at the World Junior Championships.

Two years later, he became the first junior to run the 200m in under 20 seconds when he recorded 19.93.

He was clearly full of potential, but not considered a contender for one of the most iconic records in sports.

Then he unexpectedly turned that earlier 10.03 into a 9.76 - at that point, the second-fastest time ever - last month at a meet in Jamaica.

That set the stage for Bolt versus world champion Gay on Saturday.

During a 45-minute rain delay, a singer belted out the Jamaican national anthem. The crowd went wild.

The thunderstorm cooled the air and left the track faintly glistening with remnants of the rain.

A slight tail wind - just under the maximum allowable speed for a record to count - rounded out this setting, nearly perfect for setting a record.

Gay said he knew there was a time in the 9.7s to be had.

'He ran a perfect race,' Gay said. 'I've got to take my hat off to him.'

Bolt got another break when an awkward false start brought the runners back to the blocks.

The second gun, signalling the illegal start, did not go off until the runners were nearly 20m into their sprint. Normally, that is strength-sapping.

This night, of course, was not normal. Getting out of the blocks is almost always the issue for the world's top 100m sprinters.

In an event in which every microsecond matters, it can be the difference between winning and losing, or setting a record or missing it.

It might also explain why Bolt was never slotted for greatness in this event.

He stands at 1.96m. Explosive starts are supposed to be the domain of those who are 1.8m or under.

Part of the deal when Mills agreed to give him a chance at the 100m was that he not simply use it as 'speed work' for the 200m, but to improve on his starts to turn himself into a true contender in the 100m, as well.

Mission accomplished.

What is next?

Well, showdowns with Powell certainly look more intriguing than they did, say, six weeks ago.

The Jamaican championships are scheduled for June 27-29 in Kingston. Powell, coming back from a chest injury, is expected to be back by then.

'A lot of Jamaicans keep asking me, 'Do you think you can beat Asafa?'' Bolt said. 'I guess a lot of people are looking forward to that race.'

Then there are the Olympics. As recently as four days ago, even with the 9.76sec on his resume, Bolt said there was no guarantee he would run the 100m in Beijing.

He still had more training under his belt in the 400m and at least as much promise there as in the 100m.

That debate is over now.

ASSOCIATED PRESS, AGENCE-FRANCE PRESSE