Usain Bolt redefined what is humanly possible on the track. You surely know him as the fastest man in history and the face of Jamaican athletics. However, his journey involves more than just speed records. He suffers from a curved spine and initially wanted to play cricket. Furthermore, he fueled his Olympic wins with fast food. His charisma and talent made track and field a global spectacle. Let’s explore the life of Lightning Bolt.
Usain Bolt
Usain Bolt ate roughly 1,000 chicken nuggets during the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Remarkably, he found local Chinese food strange, so he stuck to the fast food he knew. He still won three gold medals on this unhealthy diet.
He was born with scoliosis, which means his spine curves to the right. Consequently, his right leg is actually half an inch shorter than his left leg. He works hard to strengthen his core to manage this condition.
Usain Bolt actually wanted to be a cricket bowler before he started sprinting. His high school coach noticed his speed while he played on the pitch. Then, the coach convinced him to try track and field instead.
He owns a popular restaurant chain in Jamaica called Tracks & Records. The menu features traditional Jamaican dishes like jerk chicken and pork. Thus, fans can taste the food that fueled the legendary champion.
He won the 100-meter final in Beijing with an untied shoelace. Amazingly, he destroyed the world record despite this dangerous wardrobe malfunction. This proves he was simply faster than anyone else on the track that day.
Experts initially said Usain Bolt was too tall to be a successful sprinter. At 6 feet 5 inches, he struggles to start quickly out of the blocks. However, his massive stride length allows him to catch up later.
He adopted a baby cheetah in Kenya and named it Lightning Bolt. He pays for the animal’s care at an orphanage in Nairobi. This reflects his status as the fastest human alive supporting the fastest animal.
After retiring from track, Usain Bolt tried to become a professional football player. He trained with teams in Germany and Australia to chase this dream. Unfortunately, he could not agree on a contract and stopped playing.
He has never run a full mile in his entire life. Sprinters focus entirely on explosive power over short distances. Therefore, he avoids long-distance running because it uses a different type of muscle fiber.
Usain Bolt loves video games and often stays up late playing Call of Duty. He admits that he sometimes skips sleep to play online matches. It helps him relax when he is not training on the track.
He holds the world record for the 100-meter dash at 9.58 seconds. Scientists calculated that he reached a top speed of 27.8 miles per hour. No other human has ever officially run that fast.
Officials took away one of his Olympic gold medals years after the race. Sadly, his relay teammate Nesta Carter tested positive for a banned substance. As a result, the entire Jamaican team lost their medals.
He famously slowed down to celebrate before crossing the finish line in 2008. He pounded his chest 20 meters before the end. Experts believe he could have run an even faster time if he kept sprinting.
Usain Bolt successfully trademarked his signature victory pose. The stance shows him leaning back and pointing to the sky. He uses this logo on his clothing line and merchandise globally.
He keeps his Olympic gold medals locked in a bank vault for safety. He is terrified that someone might steal his most prized possessions. Therefore, he rarely keeps them at his house in Kingston.
