He is the only man at the Commonwealth Games with a claim to being faster than Usain Bolt – and he’s English.
Dan Norton plays rugby sevens and, a week to the day before Bolt is due to race the sprint relay in Glasgow
, he is a man on a mission.
Norton was at the 2010 Games in Delhi, where rugby sevens was the only sport in which England failed to get a medal.
“That is very much a motivation for us this time,†he said. “We want to get out there and show the world how good we are.â€
The stats show how good this 26-year-old is. He is fifth on the all-time list of World Sevens Series try scorers – and very fast.
Just how fast becomes clear when you compare his splits over 20 and 40 metres with those of Bolt during his 9.58sec world record for the 100m.
In Berlin, on that historic night at the 2009 World Athletics Championships, Bolt went through 20m in 2.89secs. Norton’s comparable time, also from a standing start, but carrying a rugby ball? 2.70.
By the 40m mark Bolt was clocked at 4.64secs. Norton’s time for the same distance? 4.62.
“I’m told my time for 40 is quicker than Bolt’s, but to be fair I’m only running 40 – he keeps going,†said Norton modestly.
England open up with matches against Sri Lanka and Uganda
at Ibrox Stadium before the big one against Australia this evening. New Zealand are favourites.
Faster than Usain Bolt: English rugby sevens star hoping speed pays in ...
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