Chris Thompson   Chris Thompson on the internet

With the relay underway, the world athletics championships are drawing to a close. But what a wonderful week of television it’s been. The best championships I’ve ever seen, I think; it’s had everything you could expect, and much, much more.

I expected joy, and I expected heartbreak, I even expected mind-boggling world records (it is, after all, Usain Bolt we’re dealing with here), but one thing I could not have predicted is controversy over gender. It’s just nothing I’ve really seen before, despite knowing there have been tests in the past, and people who have failed them.

Because the South African athlete Caster Semenya is being asked to take these tests, lots of people are upset. And it must be horrible and embarrassing for her. But all the same, they have to be taken.

There are a number of reasons why people are suspicious (and this includes me). She has only eighteen, she has come out of nowhere, she is shattering conventional times, I think, were I to describe her in a story, I would say she was handsome, rather than pretty. Add to that the fact she has a very deep voice, and you can see why people are suspicious. So, yes, if she is a female, it is horrible, and rude – but it still needs to be done, because people have cheated in such a manner in the past before, so we know people will do anything for success.

I hope she passes her tests, and I hope if she does, she isn’t put off what would be a spectacular career. But, whilst the IAAF might be going about it in a rude manner, it is their duty to go about it.

Today, my morning has very much revolved around shower enclosures, funnily enough. Considering it’s a bright, sunny day, this is not ideal, but as with most things that are not ideal, it needs doing. Of course, my dog doesn’t understand why that’s the case. I should be outside chewing on a bone in the sunshine, but then she can’t see the state that my shower’s in after a spot of foolhardy chin-ups. To think, it all happened with an increase in membership fees at my local gym.

There are things around the home that I decided could probably be used for a decent enough workout. Bicep curls with chairs or small coffee tables, that sort of thing. And, of course, chin-ups on my perfectly suited shower enclosure. It looked sturdy enough – like most electric showers, I suppose – but the rail has essentially been crushed, and it is now impossible to close the curtain. All in all a bit of a mistake, then.

Apparently 1 in 3 people favour deodorant instead of a shower, and I don’t particularly want to join that number, so it looks like I’m going to have to sort it out somehow. This will more than likely mean replacing it than trying to fix it. Currently, I can’t even begin to imagine how I would go about fixing it. You would think that, if it is weak enough to bend under my weight, then it should be malleable enough to move back into place, but evidently not.

So yes, not the most exciting start to the day. But there is much to look forward to, if you’re an athletics fan, at least. Usain Bolt is again taking to the track this evening in the 200m final, and I’m especially looking forward to it because I’ve got a bit of money riding on 2nd place. It should be interesting. And, of course, there is always the opportunity of another world record being broken.

I thought that, before I hit the sack, I’d look at the news articles already springing up after Bolt’s magnificent world record.

It was hinted at even yesterday. The quarter finals were hilarious – Bolt, after 50 metres, seemed to be not only jogging, but talking and smiling with his Trinidadian training partner as they eased across the line to claim 1st and 2nd place.

There is a wonderful piece here, too, which perfectly describes the sights and sounds and emotions of Berlin, as they witnessed history in the final. Some of the writing is beautiful, and it sums up the event perfectly.

My friend just told m that he made a small fortune betting on Bolt to break the record – and I imagine it will be even better odds on him to do it in the 200m. He only just beat Michael Johnson’s record last time, but it was into a headwind. And judging by his ridiculous time in the 100, and considering he will only be going faster in the second half of the 200, it could be interesting to see.