Usain Bolt is undoubtedly the best sprinter in the history of mankind. Being a living legend, he is the only individual to have won nine gold medals in Olympic track and field competitions. He is the only person to win gold in the 100-, 200-, and 4×100-meter relay events at three consecutive “Olympic Games,” having accomplished the “triple-triple.” At the Olympics in Beijing (2008), London (2012), and Rio (2016), he won these events. He had a very casual attitude toward athletics and little confidence in his own abilities in his early running career. But as time went on, he partnered with a number of instructors who helped him develop into a fantastic runner. When he was eliminated in the first round of the 200-meter event at the 2004 “Athens Olympics,” this gifted athlete’s career took a blow. Nonetheless, Bolt persisted and produced a stunning return. He made a lasting impression at the 2008 “Beijing Olympics,” taking home gold in the 100-, 200-, and 4×100-meter relays. At the London and Rio Olympics in 2012 and 2016, respectively, he repeated this feat, solidifying his status as the greatest sprinter in contemporary Olympic history.
Early Life & Childhood
On August 21, 1986, in Sherwood Content, Jamaica, Usain St. Leo Bolt was born to Jennifer and Wellesley Bolt. He is one of the couple’s three children. His parents operated a store where they sold primarily foodstuffs to make ends meet.
The small child was a student at a school called Waldensia Primary. He was well-known for being a fast sprinter while he was a student here, having won numerous “10 meter” sprinting competitions.
After that, Bolt transferred to “William Knibb Memorial High School,” where he began participating in sports like cricket. The coach believed that Usain would be a better athlete than a cricket player while guiding the young players who showed an interest in the game. He even urged him to give sprinting a shot.
The boy immediately took part in the school’s 200-meter race, which he completed in a time of 22.04 seconds.
Career of Usain Bolt
Pablo McNeil, a former sprinter who had competed in the Olympics, took over as his coach.
Bolt participated in his first significant international sporting event, the “IAAF World Youth Championship,” which took place in Debrecen, Hungary, in 2001. Even though he did not win the 200-meter qualifying race, he did finish in 21.73 seconds, which at the time was his personal best.
After that, he went on to compete in the “World Junior Championships” in 2002. He finished the 200-meter race at Kingston, Jamaica, an international competition, in a time of just 20.61 seconds.
At the 2003 “CARIFTA Games,” he gave an incredible performance that caused waves in the sports world.
Bolt shattered the previous records in the 200- and 400-meter running events during the 2003 “Jamaican High School Championships,” finishing in 20.25 and 45.35 seconds, respectively.
Usain competed in three events in 2004 that would prove to be significant in his career: the renowned “Athens Olympics,” the “World Junior Championships,” and the CARIFTA Games.
Despite receiving recognition for his outstanding performance at the “CARIFTA Games,” he was injured and did not do well in the 200-meter Olympic qualifying event.
In 2005, Bolt linked up with Glen Mills, a new coach. The latter made every effort to elevate Usain’s level of professionalism. He won a 200-meter race under Glen’s coaching, finishing in a time of just 19.99 seconds.
This rising athlete competed in the 2005 “World Championships” that same year. He performed significantly better in the event than he did in the running competitions conducted in 2004.
This athlete was excited to compete in the 2006 “Commonwealth Games,” but a serious hamstring injury forced him to withdraw from the competition.
Despite having a difficult year for most of his career, he won the 2006 “IAAF World Athletics Final,” which took place in Germany.
He next made his way to Osaka, Japan, to take part in the 2007 “World Championship.” Even though he finished the 200 meters in 19.91 seconds, his effort was eclipsed by his competitor Tyson Gay’s outstanding 19.76 seconds.
Despite widespread criticism that Usain lacked the necessary experience to compete in the 2008 “Beijing Summer Olympics,” he silenced his detractors by making it to the final event in the 100 meters. Bolt became a global sensation after breaking records in the 100-meter final, finishing in a time of just 9.69 seconds. Along with setting a new Olympic record in the 200-meter final, he triumphed. In the 4x100m relay at the 2008 Olympics, he took home his third gold medal.
In the 100 and 200-meter events, he set world records at the 2009 “Berlin World Championships.” In just 19.19 seconds, he won the 200-meter event and the 100-meter race in 9.58 seconds. In the 4×100-meter relay, he too took home the gold medal, but his team was unable to break its record.
Bolt’s false start cost him a spot in the 100-meter final at the 2011 “World Championships” in Daegu. With a remarkable comeback, he won the 200-meter gold medal, clocking in at a mere 19.40 seconds. Then, in the 4×100-meter relay, he and his Jamaican teammates set a world record with a time of 37.04 seconds.
He was the first athlete to successfully defend the Olympic sprint championships in both the 100 and 200 meters, and he made history by competing in the 2012 “Summer Olympics.” In addition, he won the 4x100m relay to complete the “Double Triple,” increasing his total number of gold medals at the Olympics to six. He won the 100m race in 9.63 seconds and the 200m race in 19.32 seconds.
He triumphed in both the 100- and 200-meter races at the 2013 “World Championships” in Moscow, clocking in times of 9.77 and 19.66 seconds, respectively. In the thirty-year history of the world championships, he became the most successful athlete after winning the gold medal in the 4×100-meter relay final.
He did not compete in the 100- and 200-meter races at the 2014 “Commonwealth Games” because of a prior hamstring issue. He took part in the 4 x 100-meter relay and contributed to his team’s victory.
He repeated as the winner of the 100-, 200-, and 4×100-meter relay races at the 2015 “Beijing World Championships,” clocking in at 37.36, 9.79, and 19.55 seconds, respectively. In addition, he achieved a record three world crowns in the 100 meters, joining Carl Lewis and Maurice Greene, and won the 200 meters for the fourth time in a row at the “World Championships.”
He added another gold medal to his collection of Olympic medals at the 2016 “Rio Olympics,” taking home gold in the 100-, 200-, and 4×100-meter relays. His times for the 100, 200, and 4×100-meter relays were 9.81, 19.78, and 37.27 seconds, respectively.
Bolt announced his retirement from track and field during the 2017 “World Championships,” where he placed third in his final 100-meter race.
As a left winger, he then started training with the Central Coast Mariners of the Australian A-League. After helping the squad win a friendly game with two goals, he decided not to play football and left the club the next month.
A Summary of Usain Bolt’s Olympic Performance
Nine gold medals have been earned by Usain Bolt over his four Olympic games.
A leg ailment hindered his performance at the 2004 “Athens Olympics,” as he was eliminated in the first round of the 200-meter competition.
He placed first in the 100-, 200-, and 4×100-meter relay events at the 2008 “Beijing Olympics,” winning in 9.69, 19.30, and 37.10 seconds, respectively.
He captured three gold medals at the 2012 London Olympics. In 9.63 seconds, he won the 100 meters, 19.32 seconds for the 200 meters, and 36.84 seconds for the 4×100 meters relay.
He accomplished the “triple-triple” at the 2016 “Rio Olympics,” winning gold medals in each of the three track events. In 9.81 seconds, he won the 100 meters, 19.78 seconds in the 200 meters, and 37.27 seconds in the 4×100 meters relay.
Honors and Accomplishments
Bolt’s first recognition came in the shape of a silver medal during an interschool competition in 2001. At the “CARIFTA Games” that same year, he took home another silver medal.
He became the youngest individual to win a gold medal in the “World Junior Championships” in 2002.
During the 2003 “CARIFTA” games, he won four medals. This is regarded as an amazing accomplishment.
He won his first gold medal at the 2008 “Summer Olympics” because to his outstanding performance in the 100-meter event.
In the 2009 “World Championships,” he took home another gold medal.
In 2012, he added another gold medal to his impressive collection of Olympic victories.
Individual Life and Heritage
Bolt’s favorite childhood memories are of playing football and cricket with his brother Sadiki.
When Bolt gave US$50,000 to the Sichuan disaster victims in 2008, he showed the world his humanitarian side.
He is a self-described football nerd who cheers for the renowned team “Manchester United.” Ruud Van Nistelrooy, a Dutch football player, has his full support from him as well.
Facts about Usain Bolt
Bolt declared his desire to participate in the well-known cricket league, “The Big Bash League.” He conversed with Shane Warne, the renowned cricket player from Australia. He did not, however, take part in this well-known competition.
The net worth of Usain Bolt
The sprinter from Jamaica, Usain Bolt, is worth a whopping $90 million. Especially during the Olympic years, Usain Bolt was one of the world’s highest-paid athletes and the fastest person on the planet at his best. In the years preceding the Olympics, the United States earned $20–30 million annually. He is, by far, the highest-paid track and field athlete of all time. Presumably, endorsements generated a far larger portion of his income than on-track competition awards. The German shoe manufacturer Puma gave Usain $9 million annually to wear their shoes both on and off the track, which was his largest salary. Additional millions were brought home by Usain through partnerships with Gatorade, Nissan, and Visa. Harper Collins, the publisher, gave Bolt a multi-million dollar advance for his best-selling autobiography, which was published in 2010. In addition, Usain commands appearance fees for track and field competitions throughout the globe that range from $250,000 to up to $500,000. Usain earned eight gold medals in the Olympics. In the 100 and 200 meters, he has several world records, including 9.58 and 19.19 seconds, respectively.