Today Usain Bolt turns 31 years old — the now retired sprinter just finished an incredible 12-year career. His final races didn’t end the way he wanted, but it won’t impact his legendary career for a few reasons.
Most of us first heard of him when he broke the world record in the 100 meter back in 2008 in New York City at the legendary Icahn Stadium. A year after that, I ran a race at that same stadium. While it seems silly, it pumped me up that day knowing history was made there.
Three months later at the Beijing Olympics Bolt would go on to win Gold in the 100, 200, and 4×100 meter relay, shattering world records left and right.
At 6-foot-5 and 208 pounds, Bolt is the largest man to hold the 100 meter world record. His size is what makes him a freak of nature, as sprinters have been known to have short/stocky bodies.
Toward the end of his career, Bolt’s rival Justin Gatlin said this about the champ, “Standing at 6-5, that’s intimidating.”
Bolt’s success comes at a time in track and field when doping scandals were at an all-time high. There’s been seven men that have ran 9.80 seconds or faster in the 100 meters, Bolt is the only one that never tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs.
His margin of victory in gold medal races is 32 percent larger than other winners.
And though the stats are impressive, the fastest man alive also has one even more awesome quality: his personality. Whenever he stepped onto a track, he would bring joy and excitement making it must-see television.
A lot celebrity athletes are self-centered. They want all the attention and all the money. With Usain Bolt, that has never seemed to be the case at all. He’s a lovable athlete and super, super talented. I hope he’s enjoying retirement and looking back on all the fantastic sports memories he’s given to the world.
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