ThuAug 21

Usain Bolt

Usain St. Leo Bolt was born on August 21, 1986. He is without a doubt the best sprinter in history. He is a living legend, having won nine gold medals in track and field events in the Olympics, a feat no one else has ever accomplished. He has completed the ‘triple-triple,’ becoming the first man to win gold medals in the 100m, 200m, and 4x100m relay events at three consecutive Olympic Games. Today, we take the time to celebrate this legendary sprinter as we honor him and acknowledge his achievements.

Fast Facts

Full Name:

Usain Bolt

Nickname:

Lightning Bolt

Birth date:

August 21, 1986

Age:

38

Zodiac Sign:

Leo

Height:

6' 5"

Relationship Status:

In a relationship

Net Worth:

$90 million

Usain's Social Media:

Background

Usain Bolt was born in Sherwood Content, Jamaica, to Jennifer and Wellesley Bolt. His prowess at running was discovered while he was in university after winning numerous running competitions. The coach encouraged him to try sprinting and he competed in a 200-meter dash which he finished in 22.04 seconds.

The ‘IAAF World Youth Championship,’ held in the Hungarian city of Debrecen in 2001, was Bolt’s first big international sporting event. He did not win the 200m qualification race, but he finished in 21.73 seconds, which was his personal best at the time. He then competed in the World Junior Championships in 2002 which he won at just under 20.61 seconds. He made a splash in the sports world with an outstanding performance at the 2003 ‘CARIFTA Games.’ Bolt rewrote the previous records in the 200m and 400m running races by finishing in 20.25 seconds and 45.35 seconds, respectively, at the ‘Jamaican High School Championships,’ which were also held in 2003. His career took off in 2004 when he competed in three events: the CARIFTA Games, the World Junior Championships, and the famed ‘Athens Olympics.’Despite being recognized for his outstanding performance at the ‘CARIFTA Games,’ he could not compete in the 200m Olympic qualifier event due to an injury. In 2005, Bolt linked up with Glen Mills, a new coach. The latter attempted to make Usain more professional than he had been previously. He won a 200m race in 19.99 seconds under Glen’s tutelage.

Even though many believed Usain lacked the necessary experience to compete in the 2008 ‘Beijing Summer Olympics,’ he silenced his doubters by qualifying for the 100m final. Bolt made history by winning the 100m final in 9.69 seconds and establishing himself as a global icon. He also won the 200m final in 19.30 seconds, a new Olympic record. At the 2008 Olympics, he earned his third gold medal in the 4x100m relay. He set world records in the 100m and 200m events at the 2009 ‘Berlin World Championships.’ He won the 100m and 200m races in 9.58 and 19.19 seconds, respectively. In addition, he won gold in the 4x100m relay.

He was eliminated from the 100m finals at the 2011 ‘World Championships in Daegu owing to a faulty start. He came back to win the gold medal in the 200m event in just 19.40 seconds. He then teamed up with his Jamaican colleagues to set a world record in the 4x100m relay with a time of 37.04 seconds. He competed in the ‘Summer Olympics’ of 2012, becoming the first athlete to properly defend both the 100m and 200m Olympic sprint championships. He also won the 4x100m relay and completed the ‘Double Triple,’ bringing his total Olympic medal count to six. He won the 100m and 200m races in 9.63 and 19.32 seconds, respectively. He won the 4x100m relay, 100m, and 200m events in 37.36 seconds, 9.79 seconds, and 19.55 seconds, respectively, at the 2015 ‘Beijing World Championships.’ He also tied with Carl Lewis and Maurice Greene as the only men to win three 100m global titles, and he won the 200m event for the fourth time in a row at the ‘World Championships.’He won gold medals in the 4x100m relay, 100m, and 200m events at the 2016 ‘Rio Olympics,’ bringing his total number of gold medals to nine. In 9.81 seconds, he won the 100m, 19.78 seconds in the 200m, and 37.27 seconds in the 4x100m relay.

Career timeline

2001
The First Medal he Received

Bolt gets his first medal — a silver medal that he won at a school championship.

2002
The First Gold Medal Win

Bolt wins a gold medal in the 2002 'World Junior Championships,' becoming the youngest individual to do so.

2008
The First Olympic Gold Medal

Bolt shines at the 2008 Summer Olympics and bags the 100m gold medal.

2012
The Scoop of Medals at London Olympics

He wins three gold medals at the 2012 London Olympics in the 100m, 200m, and 4x100m relay.

Why We Love Usain Bolt

  1. He is very passionate about showcasing his country

    Bolt always pushes to have all his commercials shot in Jamaica. He says showcasing his country in this way will lead to better prospects for his fellow Jamaicans.

  2. He always delivers an outstanding performance

    Bolt has always done what he set out to do during an athletic meet. His prowess and sprinting abilities make him a great sportsman.

  3. His unique victory pose

    Bolt's 'To Di World' posture made its debut at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. It became a worldwide sensation and one of his trademarks.

5 Surprising Facts

  1. He broke the record wearing untied shoes

    Bolt won the 100meter sprint with a world record of 9.69 seconds at the 2008 Beijing Olympics with his shoelace unfastened.

  2. He didn’t always believe in his abilities

    At the beginning of his career as a runner, Bolt took a laid-back approach to the sport.

  3. He wanted to play Cricket

    Bolt's preferred sport was cricket and it was his coach who suggested he move to athletics.

  4. He desired a career in soccer

    Bolt played for the Central Coast Mariners of the Australian A-League but left the club a month later having chosen not to pursue professional soccer.

  5. Chicken wings and the Beijing Olympics

    Before he ran the men’s final 100m dash in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Bolt indulged in some chicken nuggets and yams.

Usain Bolt FAQs

What is Usain Bolt’s top speed?

Bolt’s total ground speed for the world-record-breaking event was 23.4m/h, with a high speed of 27.8km/h in the 60-80m stretch — impressive numbers for the world’s fastest man.

Is Usain Bolt married?

Not legally but he has a long-term partner — Kasi Bennett and together they have three children.

Who is faster between Usain Bolt and a cheetah?

A cheetah is much faster than Usain Bolt by about 45 miles per hour.

Usain Bolt’s birthday dates

Year Date Day
2025 August 21 Thursday
2026 August 21 Friday
2027 August 21 Saturday
2028 August 21 Monday
2029 August 21 Tuesday
August
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
 
 

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