Usain Bolt is the featured as the notable West Indian for August 2016.
Mid-September I attended an Optus sponsored evening for small to medium businesses. With tongue in cheek I asked an Optus Manager, as I introduced myself during the networking session, if he had heard of Jamaica. “Jamaica” he replied as he showed me his mobile phone with this screen saver of Usain Bolt grinning at the camera. This amazing photo was taken by Aussie cameraman Cameron Spencer during Usain’s 100m semi-final at the Rio Olympic Games.
Month prior to the Rio Olympic Games Optus featured Usain in advertisements, comparing itself to Bolt’s philosophy of relentless improvement adopted to rise to the top of his game.
Usain grew up in Sherwood Content, Jamaica. As a hyperactive, sports-obsessed kid Usain first tried his hand at cricket. When he discovered sprinting Usain found the perfect sport to channel his never-ending drive and dedication to excellence.
In 2007 Usain broke Jamaica’s national 200-meter record held for over 30 years by Donald Quarrie, and earned two silver medals at the World Championship in Osaka, Japan. These medals boosted Bolt’s desire to run, and he took a more serious stance toward his career.
Usain admits that like most people, he struggles to get out of bed in the morning and start his training schedule. However, he holds himself to the highest standard and is motivated to be an even better runner than the day before.
Usain announced that he would run the 100-meter and 200-meter events at the Beijing Summer Olympics. In the 100-meter final Usain broke the world record, winning in 9.69 seconds. Not only was the record set without a favourable wind, but he also visibly slowed down to celebrate before he finished (and his shoelace was untied), an act that aroused much controversy later on. He went on to win three gold medals and break three world records in Beijing.
At the 2012 London Summer Olympic Games Usain won his fourth Olympic gold medal in the men’s 100-meter race. Bolt ran the race in 9.63 seconds, a new Olympic record. The win marked Bolt’s second consecutive gold medal in the 100. Competing in the men’s 200 he claimed his second consecutive gold medal in that race. He is the first man to win both the 100 and 200 in consecutive Olympic Games, as well as the first man to ever win back-to-back gold medals in double sprints. Bolt’s accomplishments have made him the first man in history to set three world records in a single Olympic Games competition.
At the 2016 Rio Summer Olympic Games Usain won gold in the 100 and 200, making him the first athlete to win three successive titles in these events. Usain finished out his Olympic career in style. In the 4x100m relay Jamaica took home gold, earning Usain the legendary triple-triple.
Usain is one of the world’s most famous athletes. At 1.95 metres tall, he literally towers over most of his competition. Usain Bolt has always lived life at full speed, with a jovial attitude that sets him apart.
Usain Bolt joins Paavo Nurmi of Finland (in 1920, 1924 and 1928) and Carl Lewis of the United States of America (in 1984, 1988, 1992 and 1996) who have won the most career gold medals at the Olympics in athletics.
“No matter where you go, people will have arguments about who is the greatest footballer or best baseball player, but one thing they can’t argue about is who is the fastest man in the world.” -Usain Bolt