Usain Bolt: Did you know?

LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 11: Yohan Blake, Usain Bolt, Nesta Carter and Michael Frater of Jamaica celebrate next to the clock after winning gold and setting a new world record of 36.84 seconds

With the Olympics done and dusted, one name has once again stood out throughout the event and has attracted a lot of eyes and ears – Usain Bolt. Regarded as the fastest man ever, Bolt will go down as one of the legends to have graced the athletics arena. His achievements in the sprinting arena have earned him the nickname – Lightning Bolt. He has won awards including the IAAF World Athlete of the Year, Track and Field athlete of the year and has twice been the recipient of the Laureus Sportsman of the Year. He is the highest paid track and field athlete and is also regarded as the world’s most marketable athlete.

But how many of you knew these facts about Bolt?

Bolt’s middle name is St.Leo. He was born as Usain St. Leo Bolt on 21st August 1986, in the rural town of Sherwood Content in Trelawny parish, Cornwall county, Jamaica.

Bolt won his first athletics medals in 2001 where he won 2 silvers at the 200m and 400m at the 2001 CARIFTA (Caribbean Free Trade Association) Games.

In 2003, despite beating all the Jamaicans at the 200m trials of the World Athletic Championship, he didn’t compete in the event as he was suffering from conjunctivitis that hampered his training schedule.

LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 11: Usain Bolt of Jamaica

At the age of 18 when Bolt turned professional, he participated in the Athens Olympics. But a leg injury saw him in 4^thplace and he was eliminated in the first round.

Bolt was offered the opportunity to train in America, but he turned them down opting to train in Jamaica with basic amenities at Kingston’s University of Technology.

In 2006, Bolt’s new target was to break the 20-second barrier in 200m and so he did at the annual Athletissima event in Laussane. He finished third at 19.88 seconds behind Xavier Carter and Tyson Gay.

At the 2009 World Championships, Bolt broke his own record of 9.69secs set in Beijing Olympics by an astounding 0.11 seconds. He went on to break the 200m world record by exactly the same margin when he ran 19.19 seconds.

At the London Games this year, he along with his Jamaican teammates set a new World Record for the 4x100m relay recording 36.84 seconds.

He also set a new Olympic record for the 100m sprint with a time of 9.63, winning gold in the 100m and the 200m for the second consecutive time which in itself is a record.

Bolt was always interested in cricket from an early age and supported the Pakistani cricket team as a child. He admired the bowling of Waqar Younis and his other favourites included Chris Gayle, Matthew Hayden and Sachin Tendulkar.

LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 11: Usain Bolt of Jamaica poses on the podium during the medal ceremony

He has always tried his hand at fast bowling and liked to imitate Waqar Younis. In a friendly game once, he happened to dismiss good friend Chris Gayle and hit a 6 off Gayle’s bowling.

Bolt might be a part of the Melbourne Stars in the Big Bash League for this season. Captain Shane Warne has been said to be going all out for Bolt’s inclusion.

Bolt is also keen on playing football for Manchester United. He is a great fan of Dutch striker Ruud van Nistelrooy.

However, on a completely arbitrary note, quirks sometimes play a part in the composition of a person and there are a few quirks that the world’s fastest man has too.

Bolt is supposedly terrified of snakes and spiders – I’m not sure a snake or a spider would be able to keep up with the man if he decides to flee on spotting them.

Bolt was awarded with an honorary Doctorate of Law by the University of West Indies. Bolt now will be known as: Dr The Honorable Ambassador Usain St Leo Bolt OJ.

As any other native of the Caribbean islands, Bolt loves his music. He loves to play DJ at parties and has a DJ kit at home.