Lightning’ Bolt

Usain Bolt is the fastest sprinter on the planet, thus earning his nickname “Lightning’ Bolt”. He was borne on 21 August 1986 in Jamaica.

Bolt is the world record holder for the 100 meters which he ran in in the amazing 9.69 seconds (click here to read the full article) and for the 200 meters run in 19.30! The 100 meter and 200 meter record were broken at the 2008 Summer Olympic as well as the 4×100 meters relay along with his teammates at 37.10 seconds.

No one has managed to win all three events at a singe Olympics in 23 years when Carl Lewis ran.

A Young Bolt

Bolt was born in Trelawny, which is located on the northwest side of Jamaica, where he grew up with his parents Wellesley and Jennifer Bolt, his brother and sister. While Bolt

was growing up him and his brother spent time playing football and cricket together in the streets and at that time Bolt had not yet discovered running.

It was only when Bolt started attending Waldensia Primary that he showed his interest and potential as a sprinter and Bolt became the schools fastest 100 meter runner at the age of 12.

When Bolt started attending William Knibb Memorial High School he focused on cricket in stead of running, however when his coach saw his speed and his potential, he advised him to try track and field events instead. Bolt followed the advice and was soon coached by Pablo McNeil and Dwayne Barrett.

They were both encouraged and urged him to concentrate on athletics and in 2001 he won his first annual high school championships medal.

At the mere age of 15, he took silver in 200 meters with an amazing time of 22.04 seconds and McNeil soon became his initial coach.

Early competition

Medal records

2001

During the CARIFTA Games in 2001 Bolt set a personal best of 48.28 seconds earning him a silver medal , as well as in the 200 meter where where he ran 21.81 seconds. The CARIFTA Games was a Caribbean regional event, however Bolt made his first world race during 2001 as well at the IAAF World Youth Championships in Debrecen, Hungary.

Unfortionatly Bold did not qualify for the finals, but he still made an achievement as he ran a new personal best of 21.72 seconds.

At this time bolt was 15 years old and did not take his athletics career very seriously and when he was suppose to be preparing for the 200 meter finals at CARIFTA trials, Bolt hid in the back of the van and was detained by police for his joke. However, both Bolt and his coach McNeil attended the CARIFTA Games, and Bolt set championship records in the 200 m and 400 m with times of 21.12 seconds and 47.33 seconds.

2002

At this point in time, Bolt had developed quickly and reached a height of 196 cm ( 6 ft 5 in) and was taller than most of the competitors. During this year Bolt had the chance to show his speed at the World Junior Championships held in his home country Jamaica. Not surprisingly he won the 200 meter race, and set yet another personal best running at the stunning time of 20.61 seconds making him the youngest world-junior gold medallist in history.

Bolt also took part in the relay and achieved two silver medals and set national junior records in the 4×100 metres and 4×400 metres with times of 39.15 s and 3:04.06 minutes. Due to his performances he received the IAAF Rising Star award.

2003

Bolt’s career kept getting better and in 2003 he won a gold medal running 200 meters finishing the race at 20.40 seconds at the World Youth Championships in Sheerbroke. He did this even though there was a 1.1 m/s head wind!

During this time Michael Johnson was the 200 meter world record holder was impressed by Bolt, but also the athletic world. During the Pan-American Junior Championships Bolt broke the world junior record and attracted the interest of the press who saw him as a rising star. In fact, by the shy age of 16 he achieved times that were not reached by Johnson until he was 20 years old.

Turning Professional

2004

In 2004 Bolt took part in the CARIFTA Games held in Bermuda where he became the first junior sprinter to run 200 meters under 20 seconds. He also turned professional in 2004 and his new coach Fitz Coleman coached him for one year.

Bolt missed out on taking part in the 2004 World Junior Championships due to a hamstring injury and he was also eliminated in the first round of the 200 meters in the 2004 Athens Olympic due to a leg injury.

2005

The first part of 2005 started well for Bolt. He changed his coach to Glen Mills and teamed up with other professional sprinters in training such as Kim Collins. He superb at London’s Crystal Palace where he ran 19.99, however Bolt suffered another injury in the 2005 World Championships, Helsinki, finals and placed last with a disappointing time of 26.27.

2006

Due to his injury he could not compete that season and misfortune followed him in 2006. Bolt suffered another hamstring injury and had to withdraw from the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne.

When he started competing again he did it with grace and glory as he set a new personal record at the 2006 Grand Pix in Lausanne running 19.88 seconds. Only two months after Grand Pix, Bolt won his first world medal at the IAAF World Athletics Final in Stuttgart finishing with 20.10 seconds.

In the IAAF World Cup in Athens Bolt was beaten by Wallace Spearmon 19.87s, leaving Bolt with a silver medal 19.96 s, however it was Bolt’s first international silver medal. Later that year Bolt ran the Jamaican Championship in front of a big audience breaking the Jamaican record, Bolt finished 200 meters in 19.75 seconds.

2007

Unfortunately Bolt did not win any gold medals at the major tournaments in 2007. However, Bolt did win a silver medal running 200 meters and in the 4×100 metres relay 37.80 sconds. The headwind of 0.8 m/s did not stop Bolt from finishing the race n 19.91 seconds. In the relay Bolt teamed up with Asafa Powell, Marvin Anderson and Nesta Carter but they still did not manage to beat the Americans who finished in 37.78 seconds.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Usain_Bolt