Usain Bolt's extraordinary Olympics 100m run sparked a flood of superlatives in newspapers across the world Sunday, ranging from the new messiah of speed to the chilled-out flying machine.

Bolt was crowned the fastest man in the world at the Beijing Olympics after a record 9.69-second run, celebrating before even reaching the finishing line.

"Oh, what a show. Oh, what a showoff too," said an editorial in the Chicago Tribune.

Jamaica's Usain Bolt (R) crosses the finish line to win the men's 100m final at the National Stadium as part of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games on August 16, 2008. Jamaica's Usain Bolt won ahead of Trinidad and Tobago's Richard Thompson and Walter Dix of the US to set a new world record time of 9.69 seconds. [Agencies]

"How fast can a guy go? This is not the question to ask the U-Bolt. The question is this: How fast could U have gone if U hadn't hit the brakes? If U hadn't slowed down? If U hadn't clowned around?"

His rivals were calling the gangling 196cm runner a freak of nature and bloggers nicknamed him "Insane Usain".

Some sporting commentators welcomed Bolt's natural showmanship as he hammed it up for the cameras, saying he was just what was needed to put the glamor back into athletics.

The men's 100m, the Olympics showcase event, has been plagued by doping scandals since Ben Johnson's fall from grace 20 years ago.

Bolt was taking it in his usual relaxed stride. He said he prepared for the race by sleeping in, not eating breakfast, watching TV, eating chicken nuggets for lunch, napping, eating more chicken nuggets for dinner, and resting.

But his cocky bravado was not a hit with everyone.

"In the 100, a show of flash after a burst of speed," said a headline on the New York Times' website.

"In the interests of doing justice to the achievement, we are going to go easy on the end-zone mimicry; leave that to another time, to the greater discussion of pointless showboating in sports," wrote sports columnist Harvey Araton.

It was impossible to see someone hit a speed that no human has reached before without technological assistance and not mention the D-word - doping.

"If, as he protests, Bolt is clean, then he is the best advertisement for his sport in a decade," wrote The Times.

"Bolt is a character, a performer, blessed with so much natural talent he might just be real."

Back in Jamaica, Bolt's fellow countrymen were celebrating the Caribbean island's first Olympic title in the blue ribbon event.

Bolt was already a star in Jamaica, having set a new world record of 9.72 seconds in May, which prompted reggae singer Derrick Harriott to record a tribute song "Lightning Bolt 9.72".

"They're going to have to change the lyrics," quipped The Washington Post.

Agencies