We all know that Usain Bolt is a legend. However, what most do not know is the amount of hardship and pain that the Jamaicans put in to make that transition happen. Bolt came from a humble background in Jamaica. Struggling to make ends meet, the Jamaican legend continued to power through his training. Unfortunately, this is a virtue that Bolt does not seem to find in today’s athletes.
Although he often tried to skip the hard work, it was Bolt’s father who kept a tight watch and ensured that Bolt never missed a session. But all of that, too, did not help him reach global stardom. It was Bolt’s unending zeal to prove himself to be the best that made all the difference. In fact, back when Bolt was 17, he was diagnosed with scoliosis. This is a condition where the spine keeps getting bent.
And if his physical complications were not enough, a lack of finances also wreaked havoc on him. To narrate an incident, Bolt, in his 2013 autobiography, Faster Than Lightning, recalled a night in London. It was 2002, and Bolt received the IAAF Rising Star Award. Now, while the JAAA paid for his flights, Bolt missed his flight and got freaked out.
Now, all these incidents could have easily made Bolt back out of fear. But the legend was not an average Joe. He instead took these incidents as fuel to push harder and attain a level that remains untouched to date. Sadly, this is not something that modern athletes are doing at the moment. In a February 27, 2025, interview on the Ready Set Go podcast, Bolt stated that most modern athletes preferred fame over quality performances.
“I think you find a lot of athletes right now; they’re running for the fame instead of running for the performance. And so they’re thinking like, oh, if I run, I’m gonna get some exposure, I’m gonna get some fame, whatever like that,” said Bolt. Bolt also compared them with the older generations. He stated that sprinters back then tried to put everything on the line and put on a great show. As that would ultimately help them escalate to the top of the fame quotient.
Bolt also recalled how he always had the thought of Justin Gatlin overpowering him at any moment. Bolt stated that on days he felt low and his calf hurt, he would remember Gatlin, which would fuel him to go the extra mile that he otherwise might not have opted for. Replying to the statement, Gatlin was also nodding in unison.
The American chimed in saying that he has been dedicating repetitions in the gym to Usain Bolt! Now, that is some strong rivalry. On a different note, the Jamaican legend also heaped praises on the women athletes. Bolt also went on to claim that not only have the women athletes improved, but they have also surpassed the level of male athletes at present.
Bolt said, “It’s better, I must say. I think the competition, like the women’s level, are not dropped. I think they have really surpassed men when it comes to competing. I watch the level that they’re at, and everybody’s running world records. They’re running faster time; they’re PRing.” Well, those were some really honest takes from Usain Bolt on the present scenario.
Meanwhile, the present scenario also has a gloomy tale to tell. Putting away his retirement funds, Usain Bolt has lost all of his $12.8 million due to fraud!
This is a developing story…
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