Usain Bolt – Jamaican Sprinter
Usain St. Leo Bolt or simply Usain Bolt as many know him is a Jamaican sprinter; who was born on August 21st, 1986 in Sherwood Content (a small town in Trelawney) to Wellesley and Jennifer Bolt. He has one brother Sadiki and sister Sherine. His parents had a grocery store, while Bolt spent most of his time playing cricket and football with his brother on the streets.
Bolt started showing his sprinting talent as a child when he attended Weldensia Primary. By the age of 12, he had become the school’s fastest runner over the distance of 100 metres. Subsequently, when he entered William Knibb Memorial High School, his cricket coach urged him to try track & field events, where Pablo McNeil (former Olympic sprint athlete) and, Dwayne Jarrett coached bolt. Bolt won his first high school championship in 2001 with a silver medal under the guidance and mentorship of McNeil.
Bolt clocked a personal best of 48.28 s in the 400 metres in 2001 Carifta Games winning a Silver. He also got one Silver medal in the 200 metres race as he finished it in 21.81 s. However, his first appearance was on the stage of 2001 IAAF World Youth Championship held in Debrecen, Germany. He did not qualify into the 200metres race, but he still was able to set his personal best of 21.73 s.
Other than athletics, Bolt loves dancing and music, his character is frequently described as laid-back and relaxed. Bolt is a catholic and, is known for making the sign of a Cross before racing competitively.
In the year 2004-2007 Bolt was guided by different coaches: Fitz Coleman & Glen Mills. He became the first junior sprinter to run 200 metres in under 20 seconds with a time of 19.93 s. Looking at his athletic performance, American colleges offered Bolt track Scholarships, but he refused them stating that he is content to stay in the homeland of Jamaica. Under the guidance of Glen Mills, Bolt knocked more than a third of a second off the 200 m CAC Championship record with a time of 20.03 s, then registered his 200m season’s best at London’s Crystal Palace running in 19.99 s.
He was awarded IAAF World Athlete of the Year and, Jamaica Sportsman of the Year from 2008-09 and, 2011-2013.He was also awarded L’Equipe Champion of Champions in 2008–2009 and 2012.Other than athletic awards, he was made a Commander of the Order of Distinction in October 2008, followed by becoming the youngest member of the Order of Jamaica in 2009.
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