Usain Bolt

Biography

At 6'5", Bolt was supposedly built wrong for sprinting. Instead his stride devoured tracks: three consecutive Olympic sprint doubles-plus, world records that have survived a generation of challengers, and a showman's ease — the lightning pose, the smile before the line — that made athletics fun again.

Jamaican retired sprinter considered the greatest of all time, whose records and charisma carried athletics for a decade.

Known for

The 100m (9.58s) and 200m (19.19s) world records, still standing.

Notable works & defining projects

• Beijing 2008 triple gold
• Berlin 2009 world records (9.58 / 19.19)
• London 2012 & Rio 2016 title defences

Notable achievements

• Holds the 100m (9.58) and 200m (19.19) world records, set in 2009
• Won eight Olympic gold medals across the 2008, 2012 and 2016 Games
• Only sprinter to win the Olympic 100m and 200m at three consecutive Games

Timeline

1. 2008Announced himself in Beijing with world records in the 100m and 200m
2. 2009Lowered both records to 9.58 and 19.19 in Berlin — marks that still stand
3. 2017Retired after the London World Championships

Did you know?

• His surname and speed earned him the nickname 'Lightning Bolt'
• After retiring from athletics he trialled as a professional footballer with Australia's Central Coast Mariners in 2018