Berlin  - Jesse Owens would have been excited and Mike Powell reeled off superlatives after the latest run of Usain Bolt into the athletics record books.

Bolt's run to the 200 metres world title in a jaw-dropping world record time of 19.19 as the world once again scrambled for the right words.

Owens, a icon after winning four golds at the 1936 Olympics in the Olympic Stadium, would have loved it, his granddaughter Marlene Dortch said.

"He would be so excited. He always said, 'Records are made to be broken.'

"My grandfather was a shining example of what you can do. That it doesn't matter where you're from or what race you are but who you are and what you believe in," said Dortch, in Berlin to reunite with the Family of Owens' friendly German rival Luz Long.

The three-time Olympic and now two-time world champion Bolt has been compared with Owens in recent days as he is rapidly closing in on sports immortality.

Powell, meanwhile, knows every dimension of superlative world records, as he bettered the famous long jump world record of Bob Beamon after 23 years to 8.95m. Now he has held the mark for 18 years himself.

"What he is doing is phenomenal. I can't put it into words. When I saw him I thought this is ridiculous," said Powell.

"You are dealing with a freak of the nature athlete.

"He goes to another level. His pure athleticism is unparalleled," said Powell, thus ranking him him higher than such sports legend as golfer Tiger Woods, basketballer Michael Jordan and Formula One driver Michael Schumacher.

Powell said that Bolt could continue breaking records because "winning is contagious." he said the biggest challenge Bolt faced was getting bored in the end.  (dpa)