The Front Row with John Leicester January 31, 2012

PARIS - What a horrific dilemma this could be. The men's 100 meter sprint final and men's tennis final fall on the same day, Aug. 5, at the London Olympics. If forced, which would you miss: Usain Bolt possibly becoming the first man since Carl Lewis to win the 100 at consecutive games or Novak Djokovic perhaps putting a golden sheen on what promises to be another astounding year?

Until Sunday, Bolt would have been a comfortable winner.

But now? Impossible choice. And what a memorable day it could prove to be for those with time to rush from one event to the other or to tune into both.

Like Bolt, Djokovic is becoming one of those special athletes who transcends the confines of sport, as he completed a 5-hour, 53-minute 5-7, 6-4, 6-2, 6-7 (5), 7-5 win over Rafael Nadal on Sunday in Melbourne, Australia.

Bolt's 100, 200 and relay golds at the 2008 Beijing Games made the Jamaican more than just an Olympic champion sprinter but one of the greatest sportsmen of all time because he redefined our understanding of how fast humans can run.

Like the very best Hollywood blockbusters, this epic cried out for a sequel and left us hungry for more. Some, including 7-time major winner Mats Wilander, already are talking up the possibility of a calendar Grand Slam for Djokovic this year. That is premature, but won't be if Djokovic wins the French Open - the only major he let slip away in 2011 - this June.

After that, Wimbledon's Center Court will be calling, with the men's final on July 8 and the Olympic final a month later. Just imagine if those produce a Djokovic-Nadal double-bill.

If that happens, then the Aug. 5 dilemma won't seem so quite knotty anymore.

Anyone want tickets for Bolt?

John Leicester is an international sports columnist for The Associated Press. Write to him at [email protected] or follow him at twitter.com/johnleicester