Usain Bolt at the Olympics
Without any doubt, Jamaican Usain Bolt is the world’s greatest sprinter of all-time. He won eight Olympic sprinting gold medals, and is the first man to win the premier 100m sprint three times, in 2008, 2012 and 2016. Aside from his incredible winning ways and record-setting exploits, Bolt is also renowned for his signature “Shh” antics and the “Lightning Bolt” moniker.
Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt waiting to receive the batonBolt made his debut at the 2004 Athens Summer Olympic Games at the age of 17 but he sustained a torn hamstring injury and failed to make his presence felt. But four years later, he went berserk as he stole the thunder from his rivals en route to capturing two gold medals in the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympic Games and became the only athlete to win gold in the men’s 100 meter and 200 meters in a record-setting fashion.
Bolt won gold again in the 100 meters event at the 2012 London Summer Olympic Games by edging out Yohan Blake, who settled for the silver medal. Bolt submitted an impressive time of 9.63 seconds to establish a new Olympic mark. The sweet victory was Bolt's second straight gold medal in his pet event. Bolt recorded another sprint double when he won gold in the men’s 200m.
Bolt added to his medal tally at the 2016 Rio Olympics, again winning the 100m, 200m and the 4x100 meters relay.
He was also part of the Jamaican 4×100m relay team that finished first in the 2008, 2012 and 2016 editions of the Olympics, though his relay medal from the 2008 games was later taken from the team due to another athlete's doping violation.
His Olympic performances have cemented his title as the world's greatest sprinter and possibly the greatest Olympic athlete ever.
Trivia
- At the 2008 Olympics, he became the first person to win the 100m, 200m and 4x100m sprints, all in world record times (though the relay win was later taken away).
- He was winner of the Laureus World Sportman of the Year in 2009, 2010 and 2013.
- He was winner of the L'Équipe Champion of Champions in 2008, 2009 and 2012.
- When he was younger he was a promising fast bowler in cricket
- He inspired the drink Bolt Lemon Ice by Gatorade
- You can knit Olympic athletes, including Usain Bolt.
Related Pages
- Complete athlete profile of Usain Bolt
- Discussion about the Greatest Olympic Athlete of All Time
- Poll: Who is the Greatest Olympian of All Time?
- Video of Usain Bolt's World Record 100m
- Usain Bolt is the number one of my Top-10 Apt Sporting Names
- About the 100m sprint at the Olympic Games
- Jamaica at the Olympics
- About Sport in Jamaica
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