Bolt….Lightening Bolt!!!

"I'm Lightning Bolt! I am not Flash Gordon or anybody. My name is Bolt, Lightning Bolt.", this is what 6.5 feet Jamaican had to say about himself.

"I did a lot of work on the 200 metres and everything came together tonight. I blew my mind, and then I blew the world's mind," he said after winning the Olympic gold 200 meters. This was no small feat; he had trampled the record set by sprinter Michael Johnson's record of 19.32 seconds, shortening it by two hundredths of a second. Even Michael Johnson, who set his record in the Atlanta Olympic games ’96, was cynical about the Jamaican breaking his record at the bird’s nest this year. This effort of Usain bolt was impeded by a 0.9 m/s headwind but could not stop him from setting a world record.

Two day later, he teamed up with Asafa Powell, his rival in the 100 metres and 200 metres and two other country men to clinch the relay and set a world record.
He was a sporting prodigy and exhibited his spiriting prowess since his schooling days. At the age of 15, world junior championships-2002 offered a great platform to showcase his talent to the world. The flow of medals continued in world youth championships in 2003. Even Michael Johnson, then the 200 m world record holder, took note of Bolt’s potential.

Setbacks!!!

A hamstring injury in 2004 ruined his chances of competing in the world junior championship-2004. Then Bolt headed to the Athens games with confidence of winning gold for his country. However, his leg injury hampered his chances and was eliminated in the very first round of the 200 m with a disappointing time of 21.05 s. American colleges offered Bolt track scholarships on the strength of his performances, but Jamaican lad refused them, stating that he was content to stay in his homeland of Jamaica. Bolt instead chose the primitive track, weight room and surroundings of the University of Technology, Jamaica, as his professional training ground.
His leg injury was not letting him perform, when he needed the most. Bolt met with a car accident in November, 2004 and suffered facial lacerations, upsetting his training even more. Another hamstring injury in March, 2006 forced him out of the Melbourne commonwealth games’2006. Major breakthrough came in 2007 Osaka world championship, where he won a silver.

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Shattering records

With good performances in 2008, legendary Michael Johnson was shocked to at his improvement. Then, bolt announced he would be competing for gold in 100 m and 200 m events at Beijing. On 16th august, 2008, Bolt stepped into the track for the 100 m event at Bird’s Nest without any favorable wind. The chances of setting a world record look bleak. Shots went off, he had one of the highest delay time to start. He raced past his rivals in the first 60 metres of the race and established a considerable lead. He slowed down after 80 metres and started his celebration on the track itself. Bolt looked back at his rivals behind in the track, which was followed by chest slapping and gave good poses to photographers!!! This celebration could have costed him the world record. But not on that day, he set a world record with 9.69 secs.
He might not won eight medals like Michael Phelps, but his feat would be remembered for the manner in which he came back for his setbacks (leg injuries). Many sprinters may break this record in times to come, but Bolt’s feats will remembered for having enjoyed his movement of glory like no one before.