Summary

· Bolt's Untouchable Legacy
· Things You Didn't Know About Bolt

· The Most Precious Running Shoes

Usain Bolt, hailing from Jamaica, is a familiar name to us as a track and field athlete. The numerous records he has achieved also attest to his greatness. Today, I will reveal a side of Bolt that was hidden within his greatness and perhaps unknown to many. 

Chapter 1
The Fastest Man Alive 

Usain Bolt is a track and field superstar known to virtually everyone. As the fastest man in the world, he has established a variety of records. 

 

 

Bolt is the only athlete who has won multiple gold medals in both the 100m and 200m events in the Olympic Games. From the 2008 Beijing Olympics to the 2016 Rio Olympics, he never missed a chance to claim the gold medal in the 100m and 200m events, spanning three consecutive Olympics. He is also the first man to set three world records in the Olympics alone. 

He also achieved the feat of winning three consecutive titles in five major international competitions. It's an unprecedented record. Many experts believe that Bolt's world record of 9.58 seconds in the 100m, set at the 2009 World Championships in Berlin, will become an immortal record. 

 

 

Since Bolt's retirement, there haven't been any new world records emerging. In response to this, Bolt stated, 

"New sprinters have achieved good records. It seems that they are not yet at the level to challenge my records." 

☞ Bolt, the unbreakable record holder... From Beijing to Rio - KBS

Chapter 2

The Hilarious Lightning Bolt

 

 

Due to Bolt's records and titles, one might think of him as a reticent sportsman, but in reality, Bolt is known for his lively and mischievous personality. He was a playful trickster from a young age. Sneaking out of his house without his parents' knowledge and spending the whole day playing at his friend's house next door was a daily occurrence for him. Each time, Bolt would bring along his pet dog, 'Brownie,' that he was raising. When he heard the sound of his father riding his bicycle back home, Brownie would start barking. With Brownie's reaction, Bolt would quickly sprint back home to avoid getting scolded.

 

Even as an adult, Bolt's mischievousness remains intact. Last year, he even filed a trademark for his iconic victory pose called the Lightning Pose. His joyful personality and actions have gained so much fame that there are now Usain Bolt emoji apps and mobile games available. 

 

 

The entertaining episodes of Bolt don't end here. In 2009, he adopted a cheetah, the fastest animal on Earth. He paid $13,700 to adopt a 3-month-old orphaned cheetah and gave it the nickname "Lightning Bolt" to match his own. 

 

 

During the Beijing Olympics, it is famous that Bolt had difficulty with Chinese food not suiting his palate, so for about ten days leading up to the competition, he ate around 1,000 chicken nuggets. Bolt possessed a delightful yet unpredictable charm. 

Chapter 3

Bolt's Running Shoes 

Bolt has many interesting episodes involving shoes as well. In the 2008 Beijing Olympics 100m final, his running shoes held special significance for him. Despite the unexpected incident of one of his shoelaces coming undone during the race, he not only won the race but also set a new world record. 

 

 

Bolt had another special pair of running shoes. It was the pair he wore during the 2012 London Olympics Jamaican trials. Unfortunately, Bolt didn't finish first in the trials. Due to a decline in his condition, his teammate and Yohan Blake surpassed Bolt, securing the first-place spot and the ticket to London. It was an unusual occurrence for Bolt, who held the title of the fastest man in the world. Currently, these shoes are on display in the lobby of Kensington Hotel in Pyeongchang.

 

 

The shoes from the trials were made in green color, representing one of the three colors of the Jamaican flag, symbolizing "hope for the future." On the side of the shoes, there is Bolt's autograph, and on the heel, there is the logo of Bolt's trademarked Lightning Pose. At the top, the phrase "WHO FAASTAH" is engraved. "WHO FAASTAH" is a playful expression that creatively combines the question "Who's faster?" and the Jamaican pronunciation of "fast" that sounds like "faastah." It represents Bolt's confidence and the phrase translates to "Who is faster than me?" 

Although Bolt came in second place and competed in the London Olympics, he remained confident. In a pre-Olympic interview, he declared, "I will become a legend of the London Olympics." In the 200m final, Bolt met Yohan Blake again and effortlessly outpaced him, securing the gold medal. At the London Olympics, Bolt proved himself to be the "greatest sprinter" by achieving a triple gold medal victory in the 100m, 200m, and 4x100m relay.

 

 

 

In 2017, Bolt left an overwhelming record in the athletics world and retired from his athletic career. Since then, he has been engaged in various activities. He opened a Jamaican fast-food restaurant in the UK and even pursued his dream of becoming a professional soccer player. Recently, he participated in a charity football tournament held in the UK and scored the opening goal. In his free time, he works as a DJ and even sells his own records.

 

"Worrying gets you nowhere. If you turn up worrying about how you're going to perform, you've already lost. Train hard, turn up, run your best and the rest will take care of itself."

(Usain Bolt, 1986~)
 

Despite his playful demeanor, Usain Bolt's famous quote reflects his sincerity when it comes to running. Known as the "human bullet" for surpassing the limits of human potential, Usain Bolt had a special experience during the London Olympics qualifying event. His autographed painting, displayed at the I-Land Museum, is among the numerous sports collectibles. It is currently on exhibition at Kensington Hotel Pyeongchang. How about visiting the exhibition this summer in Pyeongchang to see Bolt's painting along with the Olympic exhibits curated by the eland museum?