Usain Bolt Biography

Usain Bolt became known as the world’s fastest man in 2008, the year he ran the 100 meters in a spectacular 9.69 seconds at the Beijing Olympic Games. He went on to win the race again at the Olympics of 2012 and 2016, cementing his reputation as one of the great sprinters of all time.

Born in Jamaica, Usain Bolt was a speedster from the start: he was only 15 when he won a gold medal in the 200 meters at the 2002 World Junior Championships. He turned pro in 2004 and ran in the Olympics that year, but injuries and a genetic curvature of his spine delayed his development. In 2008, healthy and grown to a height of 6’5″, he exploded onto the scene by breaking the world record for the 100 meters with a run of 9.72 seconds in New York City on May 31st.

At the Summer Olympics three months later, Bolt won three gold medals in the 100 meters (9.69 seconds), 200 meters (19.30 seconds), and 4×100 meter relay (37.10 seconds), all world-record times. Bolt gained almost as much fame for how he finished the 100 meters: easing up to raise his arms and pound his chest in celebration even before he crossed the finish line.

The next year, in Berlin, he ran the 100 meters in a stunning 9.58 for a new record, more than a tenth of a second faster than anyone else had ever run the race. In 2012 he again won Olympic gold in the 100 meters, the 200 meters and the 4×100 relay at the Summer Games in London.

Four years later Bolt was back at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janiero, again winning gold in the 100-meter, 200-meter and 4×100 relay races. He thus became the first sprinter to win all three golds in three straight Olympics.

Bolt retired from racing in 2017.