Usain Bolt facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
The Honourable
Usain Bolt
OJ CD

Bolt at the 25th Laureus World Sports Awards in April 2024
Personal information
Full name	Usain St. Leo Bolt
Nickname(s)	Lightning Bolt
Nationality	Jamaica
Born	(1986-08-21) 21 August 1986 (age 38) Sherwood Content, Trelawny, Jamaica
Height	1.95 m
Weight	94 kilograms (207 lb)
Sport
Sport	Track and field
Event(s)	Sprints
Club	Racers Track Club
Coached by	Glen Mills
Retired	2017
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)	40 yd: 4.22 (Atlanta, 2019) 100 m: 9.58 WR (Berlin 2009) 150 m: 14.35 WB (Manchester 2009) 200 m: 19.19 WR (Berlin 2009) 300 m: 30.97 NR (Ostrava 2010) 400 m: 45.28 (Kingston 2007) 800 m: 2:05
Medal record Men's athletics Representing  Jamaica Event 1st 2nd 3rd Olympic Games 8 0 0 World Championships 11 2 1 World Relays 0 1 0 CAC Championships 1 0 0 Commonwealth Games 1 0 0 World Junior Championships 1 2 0 World Youth Championships 1 0 0 Event 1st 2nd 3rd 100 m 6 0 1 200 m 10 1 0 4 × 100 m relay 7 3 0 4 × 400 m relay 0 1 0 Olympic Games Gold 2008 Beijing 100 m Gold 2008 Beijing 200 m Gold 2012 London 100 m Gold 2012 London 200 m Gold 2012 London 4 × 100 m relay Gold 2016 Rio de Janeiro 100 m Gold 2016 Rio de Janeiro 200 m Gold 2016 Rio de Janeiro 4 × 100 m relay World Championships Gold 2009 Berlin 100 m Gold 2009 Berlin 200 m Gold 2009 Berlin 4 × 100 m relay Gold 2011 Daegu 200 m Gold 2011 Daegu 4 × 100 m relay Gold 2013 Moscow 100 m Gold 2013 Moscow 200 m Gold 2013 Moscow 4 × 100 m relay Gold 2015 Beijing 100 m Gold 2015 Beijing 200 m Gold 2015 Beijing 4 × 100 m relay Silver 2007 Osaka 200 m Silver 2007 Osaka 4 × 100 m relay Bronze 2017 London 100 m World Athletics Relays Silver 2015 Nassau 4 × 100 m relay Diamond League 2012 100 metres CAC Championships Gold 2005 Nassau 200 m Commonwealth Games Gold 2014 Glasgow 4 × 100 m relay World Junior Championships Gold 2002 Kingston 200 m Silver 2002 Kingston 4 × 100 m relay Silver 2002 Kingston 4 × 400 m relay World Youth Championships Gold 2003 Sherbrooke 200 m Pan American Junior Championships Gold 2003 Bridgetown 200 m Silver 2003 Bridgetown 4 × 100 m relay CAC Junior Championships (U17) Gold 2002 Bridgetown 200 m Gold 2002 Bridgetown 400 m Gold 2002 Bridgetown 4 × 100 m relay Gold 2002 Bridgetown 4 × 400 m relay CARIFTA Games Junior (U20) Gold 2003 Port of Spain 200 m Gold 2003 Port of Spain 400 m Gold 2003 Port of Spain 4 × 100 m relay Gold 2003 Port of Spain 4 × 400 m relay Gold 2004 Hamilton 200 m Gold 2004 Hamilton 4 × 100 m relay Gold 2004 Hamilton 4 × 400 m relay CARIFTA Games Junior (U17) Gold 2002 Nassau 200 m Gold 2002 Nassau 400 m Gold 2002 Nassau 4 × 100 m relay Gold 2002 Nassau 4 × 400 m relay Silver 2001 Bridgetown 200 m Silver 2001 Bridgetown 400 m Silver 2001 Bridgetown 4 × 100 m relay Representing Americas World Cup Silver 2006 Athens 200 m

Usain St. Leo Bolt (born August 21, 1986) is a retired sprinter from Jamaica. Many people believe he is the greatest sprinter of all time. He won eight Olympic gold medals. He also holds the world records for the 100 metres, 200 metres, and 4 × 100 metres relay races.

Bolt is the only sprinter to win the Olympic 100 m and 200 m races at three Olympics in a row. He achieved this in 2008, 2012, and 2016. He also won two gold medals in the 4 × 100 relay. He became famous worldwide at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. There, he won both sprint races with world record times. This made him the first person to hold both records since electronic timing became standard.

Bolt won eleven World Champion titles. He won gold medals in the 100 m, 200 m, and 4 × 100 metres relay at the World Championships from 2009 to 2015. The only exception was in 2011 when he had a false start in the 100 m race. He is the most successful male athlete in the history of the World Championships. Bolt is the first athlete to win four World Championship titles in the 200 m. He is also one of the most successful in the 100 m with three titles.

In 2009, Bolt broke his own 100 m world record of 9.69 seconds by running 9.58 seconds. This was the biggest improvement in the record since electronic timing began. He also broke the 200 metres world record twice. He set 19.30 seconds in 2008 and 19.19 seconds in 2009. He helped Jamaica set three 4 × 100 metres relay world records. The current record is 36.84 seconds, set in 2012. Bolt's best event is the 200 m, where he won three Olympic and four World titles.

His amazing speed earned him the nickname "Lightning Bolt". He has won many awards. These include IAAF World Athlete of the Year and Laureus World Sportsman of the Year (four times). Time magazine named him one of the 100 Most Influential People in 2016. Bolt retired after the 2017 World Championships. In his last solo 100 m race, he finished third. He chose not to run the 200 m and got injured in the 4 × 100 m relay final.

Usain Bolt's Early Life and Discovering Speed

Usain St. Leo Bolt was born on August 21, 1986. He grew up in Sherwood Content, a small town in Jamaica. His parents, Wellesley and Jennifer Bolt, ran the local grocery store. As a child, Usain loved playing cricket and football in the street. He played with his brother, Sadiki, and sister, Sherine. He once said, "When I was young, I didn't really think about anything other than sports."

Bolt went to Waldensia Primary school. It was there he first showed how fast he could run. He competed in his parish's annual school sports meet. By age twelve, Bolt was the school's fastest runner in the 100 metres race. He also liked European football teams Real Madrid and Manchester United.

When he started at William Knibb Memorial High School, Bolt kept playing other sports. But his cricket coach noticed Bolt's amazing speed. The coach encouraged him to try track and field. Pablo McNeil, a former Olympic sprinter, and Dwayne Jarrett became his coaches. They helped Bolt focus on improving his running skills. In 2001, Bolt won his first medal at the high school championships. It was a silver in the 200 metres with a time of 22.04 seconds. McNeil became his main coach. They worked well together, but McNeil sometimes got frustrated because Bolt didn't always take training seriously.

First Big Races and World Stage

Bolt represented Jamaica for the first time at the 2001 CARIFTA Games. He ran the 400 metres in 48.28 seconds, winning a silver medal. He also won a silver in the 200 m, finishing in 21.81 seconds.

He first competed on the world stage at the 2001 IAAF World Youth Championships in Hungary. He ran the 200 m but didn't make it to the finals. Still, he set a new personal best of 21.73 seconds. Bolt wasn't very serious about athletics yet. He once even hid in a van when he was supposed to be getting ready for a race! This caused some trouble. Later, at the CARIFTA Games, Bolt set championship records in the 200 m (21.12 s) and 400 m (47.33 s). He continued to break records at the Central American and Caribbean Junior Championships.

Bolt is one of only eleven athletes to win World Championship titles at youth, junior, and senior levels. P. J. Patterson, who was Prime Minister of Jamaica, saw Bolt's talent. He helped Bolt move to Kingston to train. He trained with the Jamaica Amateur Athletic Association (JAAA) at the University of Technology, Jamaica.

Becoming a Junior Star

The 2002 World Junior Championships were held in Kingston, Jamaica. This gave Bolt a chance to show his talent to his home crowd. By then, he was 15 years old and 1.95 meters tall, so he stood out. He won the 200 m race in 20.61 seconds. This made him the youngest world-junior gold medallist ever. He was so nervous before the race that he put his shoes on the wrong feet! He fixed it before the race started. This experience taught him to never let nerves affect him again. He also won two silver medals with the Jamaican relay teams.

Bolt kept winning medals. He won four golds at the 2003 CARIFTA Games and was named the most outstanding athlete. He won another gold at the 2003 World Youth Championships. He set a new championship record in the 200 m (20.40 s). Famous athlete Michael Johnson noticed Bolt's talent. He worried Bolt might face too much pressure. Bolt also received the IAAF Rising Star Award for 2002.

In his final Jamaican High School Championships in 2003, Bolt broke the 200 m and 400 m records. He focused on the 200 m and matched the world junior record of 20.13 seconds. This happened at the Pan-American Junior Championships. People started calling him a possible successor to Michael Johnson. At 16, Bolt was already running times that Johnson didn't achieve until he was 20.

Bolt became very popular in Jamaica. However, he sometimes lost focus on his training. He preferred fast food, basketball, and parties. He relied on his natural talent to win races.

Usain Bolt's Professional Running Career

2004–2007: Starting His Journey

Bolt at the Crystal Palace Meeting in 2007

Bolt turned professional in 2004 with a new coach, Fitz Coleman. At the CARIFTA Games, he became the first junior sprinter to run the 200 m in under 20 seconds (19.93 s). This was a new world junior record. A hamstring injury stopped him from competing in the 2004 World Junior Championships. He was still chosen for the Jamaican Olympic team for the 2004 Athens Olympics. However, a leg injury affected his performance. He was eliminated in the first round of the 200 metres. American colleges offered Bolt scholarships, but he decided to stay and train in Jamaica.

In 2005, Bolt started working with a new coach, Glen Mills. Mills helped Bolt become more professional. Bolt began training with experienced sprinters like Kim Collins. He won the 200 m at the CAC Championship with a record time of 20.03 s.

Bolt (left) behind Tyson Gay in the 200 m race at the 2007 World Championships.

At the 2005 World Championships in Helsinki, Bolt reached the 200m final. But he got injured and finished last. He was the youngest person ever to be in a 200 m world final. Injuries kept troubling him. By 2005 and 2006, Bolt was ranked in the world's top 5. Another hamstring injury in 2006 forced him to miss the 2006 Commonwealth Games.

When he returned, the 200 m was still his main event. He set a new personal best of 19.88 s at the Athletissima Grand Prix in Lausanne, Switzerland. He won a bronze medal there.

Bolt (left) with his silver medal for the 200 m at the 2007 Osaka World Championships. Winner Tyson Gay is in the center.

Bolt won his first major world medal, a bronze, at the IAAF World Athletics Final in Stuttgart. He then won a silver medal at the IAAF World Cup in Athens. In 2007, he wanted to run the 100 metres. Coach Mills told Bolt he could run the 100 m if he broke the 200 m national record. Bolt did just that, running 19.75 s in the 200 m at the Jamaican Championships. This broke Don Quarrie's 36-year-old record.

Mills allowed Bolt to run the 100 m. In his first 100m race, he won gold with a time of 10.03 s. At the 2007 World Championships in Osaka, Japan, he won a silver medal in the 200 m with a time of 19.91 s. Tyson Gay won the race. Bolt also won a silver medal with the Jamaican 4 × 100 metres relay team.

2008: Breaking World Records

The silver medals from Osaka motivated Bolt. He became more serious about his career. On May 3, 2008, Bolt ran the 100 m in 9.76 s. This was the second-fastest legal time ever. It was just behind Asafa Powell's record of 9.74 s.

On May 31, 2008, Bolt set a new 100 m world record of 9.72 s. This happened at the Reebok Grand Prix in New York City. This was only his fifth senior 100 m race. Tyson Gay finished second and was amazed by Bolt's speed.

Bolt proved he could excel in both the 100 m and 200 m. He set the world-leading time in the 200 m in Ostrava. Then he broke the national record again with a 19.67 s finish in Athens.

2008 Summer Olympics: Beijing Triumph

Bolt competed in the 100 metres and 200 metres at the Beijing Summer Olympics. He was the favorite to win both.

Bolt winning the 100m final at the 2008 Olympics.

In the Olympic 100 m final on August 16, Bolt won in 9.69 s. He broke his own world record. He was far ahead of Richard Thompson, who finished second in 9.89 s. Bolt set the record with no wind helping him. He even slowed down to celebrate before finishing, and his shoelace was untied! Scientists estimated he could have run 9.55 s if he hadn't celebrated early.

Bolt said winning gold was his main goal, not setting a world record. Some people thought his celebration was disrespectful. Bolt said he was just happy.

Bolt doing his "Lightning Bolt" pose before the 200m world record race in Beijing.

Next, Bolt aimed for gold in the 200 m. In the final, he won and set a new world and Olympic record of 19.30 s. This broke Michael Johnson's long-standing record. Bolt became the first sprinter to hold both 100 m and 200 m world records at the same time since electronic timing began. He was also the first to break both records at the same Olympics. This time, he sprinted hard all the way to the finish.

Two days later, Bolt ran in the Jamaican 4 × 100 metres relay team. With teammates Nesta Carter, Michael Frater, and Asafa Powell, they won gold and set another world record of 37.10 s. Later, in 2017, the team lost this medal. This was because Carter was found to have broken anti-doping rules. Bolt himself always passed his tests.

Bolt celebrates after winning the 100m final at the 2008 Olympics.

Bolt's amazing runs made people wonder if he could become one of the greatest sprinters ever. Bolt and his team strongly denied any wrongdoing. Bolt said he was tested many times and was always clean.

After the 2008 Olympics

Bolt continued to win races. He won the 100 m in Zürich (9.83 s) and the 200 m in Lausanne (19.63 s). He beat Asafa Powell in a 100 m race in Brussels with a time of 9.77 s.

When Bolt returned to Jamaica, he was celebrated. He received the Order of Distinction. He was named IAAF Male Athlete of the Year and Laureus World Sportsman of the Year.

2009 Berlin World Championships: Even Faster

Bolt (centre) before breaking the 150 metres world record.

Bolt started 2009 by running 400 metres races to improve his speed. In April, he had minor leg injuries from a car crash but recovered quickly. He won a 150 metres street race in Manchester in 14.35 s. This was the fastest ever for that distance. He won the 100m and 200m at the Jamaican championships. This qualified him for the 2009 World Championships in Berlin.

Bolt beating Tyson Gay and setting a new 100m world record at the 2009 World Championships in Berlin.

The World Championships were held in August at the Olympic Stadium in Berlin. In the 100 m final, Bolt faced Tyson Gay. Bolt set an incredible new world record of 9.58 s. He won his first World Championship gold. He improved his previous record by more than a tenth of a second. Gay finished second in 9.71 s. Bolt's top speed was recorded at 44.72 km/h (27.79 mph). This is the fastest a human has ever run.

Bolt talking to the press at the 2009 World Championships.

In the 200 metres final, Bolt broke his own world record again, running 19.19 seconds. He won by a large margin. His competitors were amazed by his speed. Bolt said his improved starts helped his performances. He also won gold with the Jamaican 4 × 100 m relay team. They set a championship record of 37.31 s.

Michael Frater, Bolt, and Asafa Powell after winning the 4 × 100 m relay.

The Mayor of Berlin gave Bolt a piece of the Berlin Wall to honor his achievements.

2011 World Championships: A Shock False Start

Bolt during the 200m final at the 2011 World Championships in Daegu.

Bolt was unbeaten in the 100m and 200m in the 2011 season leading up to the World Championships. At the 2011 World Championships in Daegu, South Korea, Bolt was expected to win the 100 metres. However, he made a false start in the final and was disqualified. This was a big shock. The IAAF had recently changed the rule, so one false start meant disqualification. His fellow Jamaican, Yohan Blake, won the race.

Bolt celebrating his relay victory at the 2011 World Championships.

In the 200 m final, Bolt won easily in 19.40 s. This made him one of only two men to win two 200 m world titles in a row. Bolt finished the championships by helping Jamaica win the 4 × 100 metres relay in a new world record time of 37.04 s.

2012 Summer Olympics: Becoming a Legend

Bolt at the start of his record-breaking 100 metres final win at the 2012 London Olympics.

At the 2012 London Olympics, Bolt won the 100 metres gold medal in 9.63 seconds. This was a new Olympic record. Yohan Blake finished second. Bolt became the first man to win the Olympic 100m title twice in a row since Carl Lewis.

I'm now a legend. I'm also the greatest athlete to live.

—Usain Bolt, after winning his 100m and 200m titles, 9 August 2012

Bolt then won the Olympic 200 metres title again, in 19.32 seconds. Blake was second, and Warren Weir third, making it a Jamaican 1-2-3 finish. Bolt became the first man ever to win both the 100m and 200m Olympic titles at two Olympics in a row.

Bolt at the start of the 2012 Olympic 200m race.

On the last day, Bolt and his teammates Nesta Carter, Michael Frater, and Blake won the 4 × 100 metres relay in a new world record time of 36.84 seconds.

2013 World Championships: More Gold

100 m heat, Moscow, 2013

Bolt celebrating at the 2013 London Anniversary Games.

Before the 2013 World Championships in Athletics in Moscow, Bolt set leading times in the sprints. He won the World Championships 100 metres in 9.77 s, beating Justin Gatlin. This was his second 100m world title.

Bolt running in the 100m heats at the 2013 World Championships.

In the 200 m final, Bolt won in 19.66 s. This made him the first man to win three 200 m World Championship gold medals. He also won his third relay gold in the 4 × 100 metres relay. This made him the most successful athlete in World Championships history.

2015 Beijing World Championships: Comeback King

Bolt after winning his fourth 200m world title in Beijing.

Bolt had some injuries before the 2015 season. Justin Gatlin was the top sprinter that year. But at the World Championships 100 m in Beijing, Bolt narrowly beat Gatlin. He won in 9.79 s. This was his third 100 m world title.

Bolt (right) winning a close 100m race against Justin Gatlin (left) at the 2015 World Championships.

In the 200 m final, Bolt won again in 19.55 seconds. He was well ahead of Gatlin. This was his fourth 200 m world title in a row, something no one had ever done. Jamaica also won the 4 × 100 metres relay.

2016 Rio Olympics: The "Triple-Triple"

Andre De Grasse (left) and Bolt after the 100m final at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

At the 2016 Rio Olympics, Bolt aimed to make history again.

I want to be among greats Muhammad Ali and Pelé.

—Usain Bolt on his sporting goals before his final Olympics, 9 August 2016.

He won the 100 metres gold medal in 9.81 seconds. This made him the first athlete to win the 100m Olympic title three times. He then won gold in the 200 m as well. This made him the first to win that event three times too. Finally, he anchored the Jamaican team to victory in the 4 × 100 m relay. This completed the "triple-triple": three gold medals in three sprinting events at three straight Olympics. He finished his Olympic career with a perfect record in finals.

2017: Final Season and Retirement

Bolt after injuring his hamstring in his final race, the 4 × 100 m relay at the 2017 World Championships.

In 2017, Bolt announced that the 2017 World Athletics Championships would be his last major competition. At the championships in London, he won a bronze medal in the 100 m with a time of 9.95 s. Justin Gatlin won gold. This was the first time Bolt had been beaten in a major 100m championship final since 2007 (excluding the 2011 false start).

In his very last race, the 4 × 100 metres relay final, Bolt was the anchor runner for Jamaica. Sadly, he pulled up with a hamstring injury about 50 metres from the finish. He could not complete the race. He crossed the finish line with help from his teammates.

On December 3, 2017, a statue of Bolt in his famous "lightning bolt" pose was unveiled. It is at the National Stadium in Kingston.

Usain Bolt's Personal Life

Bolt with an IAAF Athlete of the Year award.

Bolt loves dancing and is known for being laid-back and relaxed. His Jamaican track heroes include Herb McKenley and Don Quarrie. He also admired Michael Johnson.

His nickname is "Lightning Bolt" because of his name and incredible speed. He is Catholic and often makes the sign of the cross before races.

A wax figure of Bolt in his "lightning bolt" pose at Madame Tussauds in London.

Bolt has scoliosis, a condition where the spine curves. This made his right leg slightly shorter than his left. Scientists have studied if this uneven stride helped or hindered him.

He made the "lightning bolt" pose famous. He would do it before races and when celebrating. Many people, from President Barack Obama to kids, copied the pose.

Bolt is in a relationship with Kasi Bennett. They have a daughter, Olympia Lightning (born in 2020). They also have twin sons, Thunder and Saint Leo (born in 2021).

Other Sports Interests

Bolt first loved Cricket. He said if he wasn't a sprinter, he'd be a fast bowler. He's a fan of Manchester United football club. He once said he'd love to play for them.

In 2018, he trained with the Norwegian football club Strømsgodset. He played in a friendly match. Later that year, he trained with the Australian A-League club Central Coast Mariners. He scored two goals in a friendly game. He was offered a contract by a Maltese club, Valletta F.C., but turned it down. In January 2019, Bolt decided not to pursue a football career.

Documentary Film and Business Ventures

A documentary about Bolt's athletic life, called I Am Bolt, was released in 2016. It focuses on his journey to win three Olympic gold medals.

Sponsorships and Entrepreneurship

Bolt wearing Puma shoes, one of his major sponsors.

After winning at the 2002 World Junior Championships, Bolt signed a deal with Puma. Puma has been his long-time sponsor. He has also worked with companies like Gatorade and Virgin Media. Bolt is one of the highest-paid athletes in track and field history. He often insisted that advertisements featuring him be filmed in Jamaica to support local businesses.

Usain Bolt co-founded an electric scooter company called Bolt Mobility in 2018. The company offered electric scooters for rent in several cities. In May 2019, Bolt Mobility expanded to Europe, starting in Paris. However, in July 2022, Bolt Mobility suddenly stopped its operations.

In 2021, Bolt partnered with SprintRay Inc. to launch "Bolt Labs powered by SprintRay" in Jamaica. This project aims to improve dental care access in Jamaica using 3D printing technology.

Music Career

In 2019, Bolt started producing dancehall music. He released a riddim (a type of musical instrumental) called Olympe Rosé. It featured several Jamaican artists. He later released another riddim called Immortal Riddim. In 2021, he released a single called "Living the Dream."

Main Achievements and Awards

Sally Pearson and Bolt with their IAAF Athlete of the Year awards.

• IAAF World Athlete of the Year: 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2016
• Track & Field Athlete of the Year: 2008, 2009
• Laureus World Sportsman of the Year: 2009, 2010, 2013, 2017
• BBC Overseas Sports Personality of the Year: 2008, 2009, 2012
• L'Équipe Champion of Champions: 2008, 2009, 2012, 2015
• Jamaica Sportsman of the year: 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013
• In October 2008, he was made a Commander of the Order of Distinction.
• In 2009, at age 23, Bolt became the youngest member of the Order of Jamaica. This is like a knighthood. It allows him to be called "The Honourable" and use the letters OJ.

Amazing Speed Statistics

Personal Best Times

Records Held

Bolt's 9.58 seconds in the 100 metres is the current world record. He also holds the second fastest time (9.63 seconds, the Olympic record). His 19.19 seconds in the 200 metres is the world record. He broke his own previous world record of 19.30 seconds (set at the 2008 Olympics).

Bolt was part of three Jamaican relay teams that set world records:

• 37.10 seconds at the 2008 Olympics (this medal was later taken away due to a teammate's rule violation).
• 37.04 seconds at the 2011 World Championships.
• 36.84 seconds at the 2012 Olympics (current world record).

He also holds world teenage bests for the 200 metres at ages 15, 16, 17, and 18 (which was a world junior record). His 150 metres world best, set in 2009, included the fastest 100 metres ever timed within a race (8.70 seconds for the last 100m).

Bolt ran under 10 seconds in the 100m 53 times in official races.

See Also

In Spanish: Usain Bolt para niños

• Athletics in Jamaica
• Jamaica at the Olympics
• List of multiple Olympic gold medalists
• List of multiple Olympic gold medalists at a single Games
• Men's 100 metres world record progression
• Men's 200 metres world record progression
• Sport in Berlin
• Nominative determinism