BEIJING, Aug. 18, 2008 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Three more world records have been set on Mondotrack, the official track surface of the 2008 Beijing Olympics and the newest track from Mondo, the global leader in the sports flooring market.
At the Olympic Games on Saturday, Jamaica's Usain Bolt shattered his own world record in the 100-meter dash with a blazing time of 9.69 seconds. The world's fastest man, Bolt ran .03 seconds faster than his previous 100-meter record, which he set in May in New York on a track also made by Mondo.
On Sunday, Russia's Gulnara Galkina-Samitova set a new world record in winning the first Olympic women's 3000-meter steeplechase with a time of 8:58.81. The mark smashed her previous record of 9:01.59, which she set in Heraklion, Greece, four years ago.
And earlier today, Russia's Elena Isinbayeva set a world record in the women's pole vault when she cleared 5.05 meters, which was 1 centimeter higher than her own world record of 5.04 meters set in Monaco last month.
With the three new world records, a total of 231 world records have been set on Mondo tracks.
"These world records are a testament to the performance capabilities of Mondotrack and our dedication to developing the fastest tracks in the world," said Federico Stroppiana, president of Mondo North and South America. "Many athletes have achieved their best performances on Mondo tracks, which is why more than 230 world records and countless national and personal bests have been set on Mondo tracks."
Mondotrack 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.
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.
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Mondo is a registered trademark of Mondo.