BEIJING, Aug. 22, 2008 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A fifth track and field world record has been set at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games on Mondotrack, the newest track from Mondo, the global leader in the sports flooring market.
The latest world record came Friday night at the Bird's Nest in the men's 4x100 meter relay, where Jamaica's world record-setting double Olympic sprint champion Usain Bolt completed a golden treble. The Jamaican quartet, which also included former 100-meter world record-holder Asafa Powell, Nesta Carter and Michael Frater, completed the race in 37.10 seconds, eclipsing the previous 400-relay mark of 37.40 set by the United States at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics and tied by the U.S. at the world championships a year later.
The other four world records set on Mondotrack at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games are:
* Men's 200-meter dash - Usain Bolt, Jamaica, 19.30 seconds
* Men's 100-meter dash - Usain Bolt, Jamaica, 9.69 seconds
* Women's 3000-meter steeplechase - Gulnara Galkina-Samitova,
Russia, 8:58.81
* Women's pole vault - Elena Isinbaeva, Russia, 5.05 meters
"When you put the world's best track and field athletes on the world's No. 1 track surface, you know you're going to witness some amazing performances, and that's exactly what we've seen this week. Mondotrack was designed to enable athletes to perform at their very best," said Federico Stroppiana, president of Mondo North and South America. "Although we are not surprised to have seen five new world records set at these Games, we are thrilled to have provided the track that helped these athletes achieve the pinnacle of success in their sports."
Mondotrack, the official track surface of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, builds upon the success of Mondo's world-renowned Super X Performance track, which has been the world's top track for more than 30 years and the track of the past eight Olympic Games. The new track was designed to provide optimal traction and a greater contact area than other tracks. It converts the maximum amount of force generated by athletes' foot strikes to energy for maximum energy return, which helps athletes achieve faster times compared to running on other surfaces. Mondotrack also provides excellent athletic comfort and maximum safety.
Recognized around the world as the fastest, most durable and environmentally safest tracks available, Mondo tracks are installed at more than 1,100 venues globally. Many athletes have achieved their best performances on Mondo tracks, which is why more than 230 world records and numerous Olympic, national and personal bests have been set on Mondo tracks.
About Mondo
Mondo is the global leader in the sports flooring market, manufacturing floor surfaces for virtually every sport. The official supplier of the athletic track and basketball and handball courts of the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, Mondo also is the official supplier or official sponsor of more than 100 sports federations and associations, including FIBA, IAAF, Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association, NIRSA, U.S. Track Coaches Association and YMCA.
The company also supplies a wide variety of commercial flooring and is the world's largest producer of sports and toy balls with an average daily production of 450,000 units. In addition, it manufactures large luxury yachts under its Mondo Marine division.
Mondo invests heavily in research and development to ensure its products meet the highest quality standards in the industry, deliver optimal athletic performance, are durable, require minimal maintenance and are environmentally safe.
A family-owned business since its founding in 1948, Mondo's global headquarters are in Italy. The company has manufacturing facilities in North America, Europe and Asia and sells its products in more than 196 countries. More information about Mondo is available at www.mondousa.com.
Mondo is a registered trademark of Mondo.
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