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Usain Bolt - Biography:-
Usain Bolt - Biography:-
One year Usain returned to the
spotlight winning three gold medals and setting two individual world records at
the 2009 IAAF World T&F Championships in Berlin, Germany. He lowered
his 100m time to a staggering 9.58 secs, his 200m time to 19.19 secs and
running the third leg helped Jamaica to gold in the 4x100m. He defended
his World Championships title in the 200m at the 2011 IAAF World T&F
Championships in Daegu, Korea and anchored Jamaica to another world record of
37.04 secs in the 4x100m. Since then he has become a household name and one of
the world’s top sports personalities.
While the world danced and celebrated
with this precocious talent, this was a dream waiting to happen and not just an
overnight sensation.
As early as age 14, young Usain was
opening eyes with his lightning speed from regional championships in western
Jamaica to national meets set in Kingston to meets in the wider Caribbean.
Usain’s ascent to the pinnacle of
world sprinting started with the most unlikely of events as his first medal at
any meet came in the 80 hurdles in Class Three at Western Champs held on the
campus of his Alma Mater William Knibb Memorial High in Martha Brae, Trelawny
when he ‘jumped’ his way to a bronze medal.
Because he towered above his peers
even then, Bolt was also entered in the high jump event and was a promising
fast bowler in cricket before been encouraged to channel his energies on the
track.
By 2001 Bolt became a known commodity
and he sent signals that he would be a world beater in early 2002 when he
cruised to a hand timed 20.3 seconds to win the 200m at Western Champs finals
at Catherine Hall.
 |
| Usain Bolt |
Usain Bolt Gold Medals @ London 2012:-
- Men's 100m
- Men's 200m
- Men's 4 x 100m Relay
Later that year he went on to win the
200m/400m double at CARIFTA Trials before winning four gold medals at the meet
held in Nassau, Bahamas.
He announced his arrival to the wider
global audience in July 2002 when at the IAAF World Junior T&F
Championships in Kingston in front of the biggest crowd ever to watch these
meets, he won the host nation’s only individual gold medal, winning the 200m in
20.61 seconds. He left that meet with three medals including two silver
medals in the relays, anchoring the 4x100m team and was part of the 4x400m team
as well.
That was the start of a meteoric climb
to the top that also saw him winning two IAAF Rising Star awards.
It was not always smooth sailing
however as injuries slowed him down at several junctures of his career.
Soon after breaking the Word Junior
Record in the 200m with a time of 19.93 seconds at the CARIFTA Games in
Hamilton, Bermuda in 2004, Bolt was slowed by a troublesome hamstring
injury. He qualified for the final of the 200m at the 2005 IAAF World
T&F Championships in Helsinki, Finland but in cold and wet weather pulled
up before the finish holding his hamstring.
 |
| Usain Bolt 2012 |
He missed what turned out to be a
‘Jamaican party’ at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Australia in 2006 when he
suffered another hamstring injury while running a leg of the 4x400m relay for
the IAAF High performance Centre’s team at the Gibson Relays in Kingston.
Jamaican athletes swept all the sprint events at the meet, despite his absence.
Fortunately, he recovered well enough
later that year to set a personal best of 19.88 secs in the 200m and place
second in the 200m at the IAAF World Cup of Athletics in Stuttgart, Germany.
2007 was the breakthrough year in that
he broke the 30 year old Jamaican 200m Record, held by the great Donald
Quarrie, with a time of 19.75 secs to win the Jamaican Senior T&F
Championships. He went to the 2007 IAAF World T&F Championships in
Osaka, Japan in good form and won two silver medals in the 200m and 4x 100m
relay.
 |
| Usain Bolt 2012 Olympics |
In 2008 Usain Bolt rewrote the history
books and became one of the biggest sports stats on the planet. He moved
down in distance to the 100m sprint and in his second race of the year broke
the world record with a time of 9.72 secs in New York. Since then he has
gone from strength to strength with his heroic achievements in the Olympic
Games in Beijing and in the IAAF World T&F Championships in Berlin and
Daegu. He is undoubtedly the ‘World’s Fastest Man’ having broken the 100m
world record three times and the 200m record two times.
Usain has been awarded the Laureus
World Sportsman of the Year on two occasions (2009 & 2010); the IAAF Male
Athlete of the Year three times (2008, 2009, 2011) as well as many awards in
many countries in all corners of the world. He has his own clothing line in
conjunction with Puma; his own watch made by Hublot; his own headphone range
‘Soul by Usain Bolt’; his own restaurant ‘Tracks & Records’ in Kingston,
Jamaica; the ‘Usain Bolt Foundation’ and endorses some of the top brands in the
world.
 |
| Usain Bolt 2012 Olympics Records |
Profile:-
Height:
6’5″ (1.95 metres)
6’5″ (1.95 metres)
Weight:
207 pounds (94 kg)
207 pounds (94 kg)
Place of Birth:
Trelawny, Jamaica
Trelawny, Jamaica
Nationality:
Jamaican
Jamaican
Date of Birth:
21 August 1986
21 August 1986
Place of Residence:
Kingston, Jamaica
Kingston, Jamaica
 |
| Usain Bolt 2012 Olympics Gold Medals |
World Records:-
100m – 9.58 seconds
Berlin, 2009
Berlin, 2009
200m – 19.19 seconds
Berlin, 2009
Berlin, 2009
4x100m – 37.04 seconds
Daegu, 2011
Daegu, 2011
Olympic Gold Medals:-
100m – 9.69 seconds
Beijing, 2008
Beijing, 2008
200m – 19.30 seconds
Beijing, 2008
Beijing, 2008
4x100m – 37.10 seconds
Beijing, 2008
Beijing, 2008
World Champion-Ship Gold Medals:-
100m – 9.58 seconds
Berlin, 2009
Berlin, 2009
200m – 19.19 seconds
Berlin, 2009
Berlin, 2009
200m – 19.40 seconds
Daegu, 2011
Daegu, 2011
4x100m – 37.31 seconds
Berlin, 2009
Berlin, 2009
4x100m – 37.04 seconds
Daegu, 2011
Daegu, 2011
World Junior Records:-
200m – 19.93 seconds
Kingston, 2002
Kingston, 2002
 |
| Usain Bolt Gold Medals |
BOLT LEADS JAMAICA’S SWEEP OF THE
OLYMPIC GAMES 200 METRES:-
Usain Bolt became the first man to
successfully defend both 100 and 200 sprint titles in an Olympic Games with a
19.32 clocking over 200 metres at the London Olympic Games on Thursday.
This time is the third fastest time over the distance the world record holder has ever run in his career with 19.30 and 19.19 seconds done in 2008 and 2009 in Beijing and Berlin respectively.
Bolt in an interview after the race said, “this is what I wanted and I got it. I came here to London to get the job done and I am this close to completing that task.”
Bolt also led a historical feat as his teammates Yohan Blake 19.44 and Warren Weir – 19.84 (PB) are the first Non-Americans to complete a clean sweep of the 200 metres.
Bolt is part of the team 4 X 100 metres relay team. Jamaica has the world record of 37.04 which was run in Daegu at the World Championships.
This time is the third fastest time over the distance the world record holder has ever run in his career with 19.30 and 19.19 seconds done in 2008 and 2009 in Beijing and Berlin respectively.
Bolt in an interview after the race said, “this is what I wanted and I got it. I came here to London to get the job done and I am this close to completing that task.”
Bolt also led a historical feat as his teammates Yohan Blake 19.44 and Warren Weir – 19.84 (PB) are the first Non-Americans to complete a clean sweep of the 200 metres.
Bolt is part of the team 4 X 100 metres relay team. Jamaica has the world record of 37.04 which was run in Daegu at the World Championships.
BOLT BLAZES TO 9.63 SECONDS IN OLYMPIC
100M FINAL:-
Usain Bolt successfully defended his
100 metres title at the London Olympics with an impressive 9.63 seconds on
Sunday, August 5.
Although Bolt was jubilant about his
victory, he noted “this is the first step for me and the 100 metres is just a
step in the door and the 200 metres win would help me achieve the legend
status. ”Becoming a legend is my ultimate goal. That’s my goal right
there, and that means defending my titles.
Bolt won ahead of countryman and club
mate Yohan Blake with 9.75 seconds, while 2004 winner, Justin Gatlin of the USA
got the bronze.
The win was historic for Jamaica as
the country celebrated its 50th year of Independence on August 6. Another
interesting piece of history, exactly 64 years ago at the London Olympic Games,
Jamaicans Arthur Wint and Herb McKenley ran first and second in the 400 metres
on August 5 – same day while USA’s Mal Whitfield was third.
Bolt won his heat of the 200 metres in
a comfortable 20.39 seconds to qualify for round 2. The final is set for August
9.
USAIN BOLT ANNOUNCED FOR ATHLETISSIMA
LAUSANNE ON AUGUST 23:-
Lausanne, Switzerland – Great news for
all Usain Bolt fans! After missing last year’s edition of Athletissima, Usain
Bolt is back at the Samsung Diamond League meeting, and will run on the
Pontaise track on 23 August for the sixth time. The Jamaican champion will
decide after the London Games whether he line up in the 100m or the 200m.
The love story between Bolt and
Ahtletissima started in 2006, when the Jamaican ran in Lausanne for the first
time. It was a 200m and he immediately fell in love with the Lausanne curve:
“It is always a great pleasure to run in Lausanne, in a stadium which has one
of the best curves I have ever seen.”
That year, he finished 3rd behind
Carter and Gay, but in a great 19.88. The following year, in 2007, he was 2nd
behind Gay, again. In 2008 and 2009, he won in 19.63 and 19.59, under pouring
rain in what was arguably the best time ever clocked in such miserable weather
and has been the Athletissima 200m record since.
In 2010, after 5 weeks of injury, he
had wished to run the 100m, which he won in 9.82. This shows that, whatever the
distance, the triple Olympic champion, triple World record holder and 5 times
World champion puts on an amazing show. This year, his best results so far have
been 9.76 and 19.83.
The bronze medalist of the Osaka and
Berlin World championships, Wallace Spearmon, will run the 200m. The American
sprinter has been among the best in the world for several years and has just
won the US trials in 19.82, with too much tailwind though. He had already
clocked a sub 20 second time (19.95) at the beginning of the season in
Arlington. His PB is 19.65. The European champion Churandy Martina and the
winner yesterday in Monaco Nickel Ashmeade will join him.
 |
| Usain Bolt Gold History |
Rank
|
Event
|
Year
|
Location
|
Result
|
Olympic Games
|
||||
1
|
100m
|
2008
|
Beijing, CHN
|
9.69
|
1
|
200m
|
2008
|
Beijing, CHN
|
19.30
|
1
|
4 x 100m Relay
|
2008
|
Beijing, CHN
|
37.10
|
Heats
|
200m
|
2004
|
Athens, GRE
|
21.05
|
World Championships
|
||||
1
|
200m
|
2011
|
Daegu, KOR
|
19.40
|
1
|
4 x 100m Relay
|
2011
|
Daegu, KOR
|
37.04
|
1
|
100m
|
2009
|
Berlin, GER
|
9.58
|
1
|
200m
|
2009
|
Berlin, GER
|
19.19
|
1
|
4 x 100m Relay
|
2009
|
Berlin, GER
|
37.31
|
2
|
200m
|
2007
|
Osaka, JPN
|
19.91
|
2
|
4 x 100m Relay
|
2007
|
Osaka, JPN
|
37.89
|
8
|
100m
|
2011
|
Daegu, KOR
|
DSQ
|
Diamond League
|
||||
1
|
100m
|
2012
|
Oslo, NOR
|
9.79
|
1
|
100m
|
2012
|
Rome, ITA
|
9.76
|
1
|
100m
|
2011
|
Monaco, MON
|
9.88
|
1
|
100m
|
2011
|
Rome, ITA
|
9.91
|
1
|
200m
|
2011
|
Stockholm, SWE
|
20.03
|
1
|
200m
|
2011
|
Paris Saint-Denis, FRA
|
20.03
|
1
|
200m
|
2011
|
Oslo, NOR
|
19.86
|
1
|
100m
|
2010
|
Paris Saint-Denis, FRA
|
9.84
|
1
|
200m
|
2010
|
Shanghai, CHN
|
19.76
|
2
|
100m
|
2010
|
Stockholm, SWE
|
9.97
|
Golden League
|
||||
1
|
100m
|
2009
|
Zurich, SUI
|
9.81
|
1
|
100m
|
2009
|
Paris Saint-Denis, FRA
|
9.79
|
1
|
200m
|
2009
|
Brussels, BEL
|
19.57
|
1
|
100m
|
2008
|
Brussels, BEL
|
9.77
|
1
|
100m
|
2008
|
Zurich, SUI
|
9.83
|
World Challenge
|
||||
1
|
100m
|
2012
|
Ostrava, CZE
|
10.04
|
1
|
100m
|
2012
|
Kingston, JAM
|
9.82
|
1
|
100m
|
2011
|
Zagreb, CRO
|
9.85
|
1
|
100m
|
2011
|
Ostrava, CZE
|
9.91
|
1
|
100m
|
2010
|
Daegu, KOR
|
9.86
|
1
|
300m
|
2010
|
Ostrava, CZE
|
30.97
|
Super Grand Prix
|
||||
1
|
100m
|
2009
|
London, GBR
|
9.91
|
1
|
200m
|
2009
|
Lausanne, SUI
|
19.59
|
1
|
200m
|
2008
|
Lausanne, SUI
|
19.63
|
Grand Prix
|
||||
1
|
100m
|
2009
|
Ostrava, CZE
|
9.77
|
Nickname
Lightning Bolt. (Track and Field News,
01 Sep 2003)
Hobbies
Watching basketball, playing dominoes,
listening to Jamaican dancehall music, dancing and partying. (Jamaican
Athletics, 14 Oct 2003; bbc.co.uk, 18 Aug 2008; smh.com.au, 06 Sep 2011)
Occupation
Athlete
Club name
Racers Athletic Club, Kingston, JAM
Coach
Glen Mills from 2004 (espn.co.uk, 29
Dec 2011)
Debut
2004 for Jamaica, Olympic Games
(Athens) (nbcolympics.com, 10 May 2012)
 |
| Usain Bolt 2012 Olympics Records Gold Medals |
Injuries
An injured Achilles tendon in his left
ankle kept him out of competition for five weeks in 2010. He returned to action
at the Diamond League event in Lausanne in July before back problems brought
his year to an end in August. (bbc.co.uk, 08 Jul 2010, 06 Aug 2010;
dailymail.co.uk, 24 May 2011)
In April 2009 he crashed his BMW M3 on a wet road outside of Kingston. The car overturned, rolled into a ditch and was severely damaged. Neither he, his brother nor a female passenger were seriously injured, although he was treated for scratches and a minor foot injury. He missed about a month of training and competition. (guardian.co.uk, 01 May 2009; nbcolympics.com, 10 May 2012)
He was forced to miss the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, Australia with a hamstring injury. (usainbolt.com, 17 Aug 2009)
In April 2009 he crashed his BMW M3 on a wet road outside of Kingston. The car overturned, rolled into a ditch and was severely damaged. Neither he, his brother nor a female passenger were seriously injured, although he was treated for scratches and a minor foot injury. He missed about a month of training and competition. (guardian.co.uk, 01 May 2009; nbcolympics.com, 10 May 2012)
He was forced to miss the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, Australia with a hamstring injury. (usainbolt.com, 17 Aug 2009)
Additional information
 |
| Usain Bolt 2012 100m 200m Records |
Start of sporting career
He started sprinting during his days at William Knibb Memorial High School in Trelawny, Jamaica. (jamaica-gleaner.com, 18 Aug 2008)
Reason for taking up this sport
He played cricket for his school as his height made him a natural fast bowler. The cricket coach recognised he was also quick on his feet and suggested he try sprinting. (sherbrooke2003.ca, 24 Sep 2003)
Ambitions
To become a legend. (bbc.co.uk, 20 Aug 2009)
Training
He works on a cyclical training basis. At the start of a season he works on strength development before concentrating on coordination and biomechanical execution as the season develops. (usainbolt.com, 10 May 2012)
Hero
The United States' world and Olympic champion sprinter Michael Johnson and Jamaica's Olympic champions Herb McKenley - who won gold in the 4x400m at the 1952 Helsinki Games, and Don Quarrie - who won gold in the 200m at the 1976 Montreal Games. "If you sit and watch Don Quarrie, he is one of the smoothest bend runners ever." (bbc.co.uk, 18 Aug 2008)
Most influential person in career
Coach Glen Mills. "He is like a father figure to me," he said. "He has never done me any wrong and he has always made the right decisions. He is a guiding light and he has shown me the way to improve myself both as a person and as an athlete." (AFP, 24 Nov 2008)
Superstitions / Rituals
"The night before [a race] I decide what I need to do. Then on the day I just try to relax, think about other stuff, maybe cars or something. If you think about racing too much you may just lose it a little bit." (bbc.co.uk, 18 Aug 2008)
Awards
In recognition of his achievements, he has received various titles from the Jamaican government, as well as an honorary degree from the University of West Indies. With all honorifics, his official title is: Dr the Honourable Ambassador Usain St Leo Bolt, OJ. (jamaica-gleaner.com, 05 Oct 2008; smh.com.au, 06 Sep 2011; jis.gov.jm, 10 May 2012)
He has been conferred a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation [UNESCO] Champion for Sport. (jis.gov.jm, 10 May 2012)
He received the IAAF World Athlete of the Year award in 2008, 2009 and 2011. (iaaf.org, 12 Nov 2011)
He was named Laureus World Sportsman of the Year in 2009 and 2010. (laureus.com, 10 May 2012)
WHEELY BAD DRIVER
He has been involved in a few accidents since rising to prominence. In 2009 he crashed a BMW car into a ditch along a highway. He was forced to have surgery on his left foot after stepping on thorns while walking away from the wreck. Then, in June 2012, he lost control of another BMW and collided with guard rails early in the morning after leaving a party. He was unharmed. (AP, 10 Jun 2012)
STARTING OFF ON THE WRONG FOOT
In the months before the 2012 Olympic Games in London, he spoke out against the new starting blocks, saying they did not suit him. "The blocks have changed from last season. They're new models. Personally I think they need to go back to the old blocks," he said. "I'm not very pleased with the new blocks they have, they're a little short for me." He wears UK size 13 shoes. (AFP, 10 Jun 2012)
2011 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
A false start eliminated him from the 100m final at the 2011 World Championships and focussed sharp criticism on the IAAF's zero-tolerance false start rule inaugurated in 2010. After cooling down on the practice track, he told reporters the mishap wasn't going to affect him. "Looking for tears?" he said. "Not going to happen. I'm OK." Days later he put the disappointment behind him to successfully defended his 200m title, claiming gold in 19.40. (espn.go.com, 28 Aug 2011; daegu2011.iaaf.org, 03 Sep 2011)
UNCONVENTIONAL
In his 2010 biography 'Usain Bolt: 9.58' he revealed that he doesn't consider himself a conventional athlete and could run even faster if he could be bothered to live a more disciplined lifestyle. "I'm so lucky that I'm raw talent," he said. "If I really worked at it I could be extremely good indeed, but I never have. Yes, I put the effort in at times, but I could do more. If I train right, eat right, go to the gym all the time and dedicate myself 100 per cent then I definitely will do crazy times. It's hard, I don't know how some sportsmen do it, I do what I like, stay up until whatever time I feel like, socialise when I like and eat what I like. I don't follow any of the rules." (smh.com.au, 06 Sep 2011)
2009 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
He set a 100m world record of 9.58 at the 2009 World Championships in Berlin, bettering his own record by 0.11 seconds - the biggest single improvement of the record since 1921. He then went on to set a new 200m world record of 19.19 seconds, again bettering his own record by 0.11, to become the first man to hold the 100m and 200m world and Olympic titles at the same time. "I definitely showed people that my world records in Beijing were not a joke," he said. To mark his achievements Berlin mayor, Klaus Wowereit, presented him with a 12-foot tall original section of the Berlin Wall. (abc.net.au, 17 Aug 2009; berlin.iaaf.org, 16 Aug 2009; bbc.co.uk, 20 Aug 2009; sports.espn.go.com, 23 Aug 2009)
2008 OLYMPIC GAMES
At the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games he became the first man in Olympic history to win both the 100m and 200m races in world record times, but received criticism from IOC president Jacques Rogge for showing a lack of respect to his competitors for celebrating before crossing the line in the 100m. "I would love him to show more respect for his competitors," Rogge said. "That's not the way we perceive being a champion. I understand the joy, but he might have interpreted that in another way. He'll learn. He's still a young man." (cbc.ca, 20 Aug 2008; usainbolt.com, 17 Aug 2009; sports.aol.com, 10 May 2012)
FRIES WITH THAT?
After setting a new 100m world record at the 2009 World Championships he revealed some unusual nutritional preparation. "Asafa [Powell] said there was no nuggets here [in Berlin] but I found a McDonald's and I had a lot of nuggets for lunch," he said. He also admitted that during his record runs at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games he was eating up to 15 chicken nuggets at least once a day. (news.com.au, 17 Aug 2009; smh.com.au, 06 Sep 2011)
He started sprinting during his days at William Knibb Memorial High School in Trelawny, Jamaica. (jamaica-gleaner.com, 18 Aug 2008)
Reason for taking up this sport
He played cricket for his school as his height made him a natural fast bowler. The cricket coach recognised he was also quick on his feet and suggested he try sprinting. (sherbrooke2003.ca, 24 Sep 2003)
Ambitions
To become a legend. (bbc.co.uk, 20 Aug 2009)
Training
He works on a cyclical training basis. At the start of a season he works on strength development before concentrating on coordination and biomechanical execution as the season develops. (usainbolt.com, 10 May 2012)
Hero
The United States' world and Olympic champion sprinter Michael Johnson and Jamaica's Olympic champions Herb McKenley - who won gold in the 4x400m at the 1952 Helsinki Games, and Don Quarrie - who won gold in the 200m at the 1976 Montreal Games. "If you sit and watch Don Quarrie, he is one of the smoothest bend runners ever." (bbc.co.uk, 18 Aug 2008)
Most influential person in career
Coach Glen Mills. "He is like a father figure to me," he said. "He has never done me any wrong and he has always made the right decisions. He is a guiding light and he has shown me the way to improve myself both as a person and as an athlete." (AFP, 24 Nov 2008)
Superstitions / Rituals
"The night before [a race] I decide what I need to do. Then on the day I just try to relax, think about other stuff, maybe cars or something. If you think about racing too much you may just lose it a little bit." (bbc.co.uk, 18 Aug 2008)
Awards
In recognition of his achievements, he has received various titles from the Jamaican government, as well as an honorary degree from the University of West Indies. With all honorifics, his official title is: Dr the Honourable Ambassador Usain St Leo Bolt, OJ. (jamaica-gleaner.com, 05 Oct 2008; smh.com.au, 06 Sep 2011; jis.gov.jm, 10 May 2012)
He has been conferred a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation [UNESCO] Champion for Sport. (jis.gov.jm, 10 May 2012)
He received the IAAF World Athlete of the Year award in 2008, 2009 and 2011. (iaaf.org, 12 Nov 2011)
He was named Laureus World Sportsman of the Year in 2009 and 2010. (laureus.com, 10 May 2012)
WHEELY BAD DRIVER
He has been involved in a few accidents since rising to prominence. In 2009 he crashed a BMW car into a ditch along a highway. He was forced to have surgery on his left foot after stepping on thorns while walking away from the wreck. Then, in June 2012, he lost control of another BMW and collided with guard rails early in the morning after leaving a party. He was unharmed. (AP, 10 Jun 2012)
STARTING OFF ON THE WRONG FOOT
In the months before the 2012 Olympic Games in London, he spoke out against the new starting blocks, saying they did not suit him. "The blocks have changed from last season. They're new models. Personally I think they need to go back to the old blocks," he said. "I'm not very pleased with the new blocks they have, they're a little short for me." He wears UK size 13 shoes. (AFP, 10 Jun 2012)
2011 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
A false start eliminated him from the 100m final at the 2011 World Championships and focussed sharp criticism on the IAAF's zero-tolerance false start rule inaugurated in 2010. After cooling down on the practice track, he told reporters the mishap wasn't going to affect him. "Looking for tears?" he said. "Not going to happen. I'm OK." Days later he put the disappointment behind him to successfully defended his 200m title, claiming gold in 19.40. (espn.go.com, 28 Aug 2011; daegu2011.iaaf.org, 03 Sep 2011)
UNCONVENTIONAL
In his 2010 biography 'Usain Bolt: 9.58' he revealed that he doesn't consider himself a conventional athlete and could run even faster if he could be bothered to live a more disciplined lifestyle. "I'm so lucky that I'm raw talent," he said. "If I really worked at it I could be extremely good indeed, but I never have. Yes, I put the effort in at times, but I could do more. If I train right, eat right, go to the gym all the time and dedicate myself 100 per cent then I definitely will do crazy times. It's hard, I don't know how some sportsmen do it, I do what I like, stay up until whatever time I feel like, socialise when I like and eat what I like. I don't follow any of the rules." (smh.com.au, 06 Sep 2011)
2009 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
He set a 100m world record of 9.58 at the 2009 World Championships in Berlin, bettering his own record by 0.11 seconds - the biggest single improvement of the record since 1921. He then went on to set a new 200m world record of 19.19 seconds, again bettering his own record by 0.11, to become the first man to hold the 100m and 200m world and Olympic titles at the same time. "I definitely showed people that my world records in Beijing were not a joke," he said. To mark his achievements Berlin mayor, Klaus Wowereit, presented him with a 12-foot tall original section of the Berlin Wall. (abc.net.au, 17 Aug 2009; berlin.iaaf.org, 16 Aug 2009; bbc.co.uk, 20 Aug 2009; sports.espn.go.com, 23 Aug 2009)
2008 OLYMPIC GAMES
At the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games he became the first man in Olympic history to win both the 100m and 200m races in world record times, but received criticism from IOC president Jacques Rogge for showing a lack of respect to his competitors for celebrating before crossing the line in the 100m. "I would love him to show more respect for his competitors," Rogge said. "That's not the way we perceive being a champion. I understand the joy, but he might have interpreted that in another way. He'll learn. He's still a young man." (cbc.ca, 20 Aug 2008; usainbolt.com, 17 Aug 2009; sports.aol.com, 10 May 2012)
FRIES WITH THAT?
After setting a new 100m world record at the 2009 World Championships he revealed some unusual nutritional preparation. "Asafa [Powell] said there was no nuggets here [in Berlin] but I found a McDonald's and I had a lot of nuggets for lunch," he said. He also admitted that during his record runs at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games he was eating up to 15 chicken nuggets at least once a day. (news.com.au, 17 Aug 2009; smh.com.au, 06 Sep 2011)
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