Photo Credit: The Jamaica Gleaner
Hard as you may try, and with the unrestrained bravado of a superstar it is easy to not want to, but dang it’s hard to not love Usain Bolt.
The fastest man in the world was born Usain St. Leo Bolt – yes, Bolt is his actual last name – making him predestined to be a sprinter. Even the parish of Trewlany in Jamaica, West Indies where he was born has produced other champion runners like Veronica Campbell-Brown, Lerone Clarke, and Ben Johnson, but none would achieve the notoriety of Bolt who at the 2012 Olympic Games in London not only crushed his competition but defended his record-breaking 100m, 200m and 4x100m victories, the latter in a new world record time of 36.84 seconds. After the 200m race fellow competitor Anaso Jobodwana of South Africa compared Bolt to a “ghost” who “disappears in front of you.”
The Herald Sun
To add to his legend, back home in Jamaica his countrymen braved Tropical Storm Ernesto to gather at the national stadium in Kingston to witness the Usain Bolt vs. Yohan Blake 100-meter final showdown at the London Olympics. Yes, it is that serious.
Bolt’s accomplishments are actually contrary to the life many thought he would have as a child. Born with scoliosis, a curvature of the lower spine, the speed records that he’s been making for over a decade now are even more amazing. Keeping up with a workout that keeps both his core and his back strong allows Bolt to keep his back maladies in check.
For years now rumors have swirled that Bolt may also play the sport that’s his first love: cricket. A huge fan of West Indian and Pakistani teams, if Bolt were not nudged over to track & field by his high school cricket coach, he’d be playing the sport today. Bolt’s even being wooed by Australian cricket superstar Shane Warne to play for the Melbourne Stars’ Twenty20 Big Bash League, a move publicly supported by Australian actor and Hollywood superstar Russell Crowe.
Is it possible for Usain Bolt to become a superstar in yet another sport? I’d usually say no, but with his strength, speed, and determination I’d say it quite possible.
