Olympic sprinters wary of gun  In a matter of milliseconds Usain
Bolt's aura of invincibility was shattered, not by a rival
sprinter but by two sharp cracks of the starter's pistol.
Sprinters wary of gun - AthleticsReuters  Bolt's
disqualification from the world 100 metres final last year not
only cast a shadow over the championships in Daegu, but put the
sport's draconian false start rule firmly in the firing line.
It also shined a spotlight on the technology that will be a key
component in a complex timing system assessing the performances
of the world's best athletes at the 2012 London Olympics.  The
starting pistol has come a long way from being an ordinary gun
firing blanks to set athletes on their way. Its development has
been influenced by a host of factors, from technical innovation
to criminal legislation.  For much of the 20th century, starting
pistols were modified versions of regular firearms used to fire
blanks, with the barrels usually blocked or welded shut to
prevent the firing of live ammun