"You're sitting in my chair" - Commonwealth medalist recalls hilarious encounter with Usain Bolt during the medal ceremony

Usain Bolt shared a humorous moment with Canadian athlete Alysha Newman at the 2014 Commonwealth Games. After competing in his race, Bolt left his seat vacant briefly. Upon returning, he saw Newman sitting in his chair.

Recalling the encounter in a January 2025 interview with CBC Olympics, the Canadian pole vaulter said:

"They put us on pause because they were waiting for Usain Bolt to run. And I remember sharing a seat with him to get this medal. I guess he was sitting in the chair, we came in and then he must have got up, to go sign something. I sat down, and he goes, 'You're sitting in my chair.' And I was like, 'I just competed for four hours, you ran nine seconds.' And he just started laughing, he goes 'Fair.'" [00:12]

Bolt is widely regarded as the greatest sprinter in history, known for his dominance in the 100-meter, 200-meter, and 4x100-meter relay. He set world records in the 100m (9.58 seconds), 200m (19.19 seconds), and the 4x100m relay (36.84 seconds) during the 2009 World Championships in Berlin, where he also broke his previous records in the 100m and 200m.

Bolt won his first Commonwealth Games gold medal in the 4x100m relay at the 2014 edition held in Glasgow, Scotland, anchoring Jamaica to victory in 37.58 seconds, setting a new Games record. His illustrious career includes nine Olympic gold medals, earned across three consecutive games (2008, 2012, and 2016). He also won the IAAF World Athlete of the Year Award six times.

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Usain Bolt opens up about the mental strategies behind his pre-race preparation

Usain Bolt at 2024 Laureus World Sports Awards Madrid - Red Carpet - Image Source: Picture via Getty Images

In a 2021 interview with CNBC, Usain Bolt reflected on his career, emphasizing that sprinting is as much a mental challenge as a physical one. He described the balance between psychological and physical preparation as 50/50, acknowledging that even the fittest athletes can falter without the right mindset.

For an Olympic champion, staying mentally clear before a race is crucial. Bolt said overthinking or dwelling on weakness, particularly his start, often leads to mistakes. To avoid this, he deliberately distracts himself with non-race-related thoughts. Reflecting on his approach, he explained:

“I tend to randomly think about anything else but the race at the track.I might think about playing video games or what I might have [to eat] after the race.”

Bolt further explained that he enters a state of flow once the race begins, feeling fully connected to his movement, enabling him to perform at his best.