Usain Bolt, regarded as the greatest sprinter of all time, has an astonishing world record in the 100 meters, 200 meters, and 4×100 meters relay races. He is prominently known as the fastest man in the world, with an unbeatable speed record of 9.58 records.
The legend retired from track and field in 2017, but he still holds records in 100m and 200m races, and with eight Olympic gold medals, Usain Bolt is titled the GOAT of track and field. However, during his early years on the track, Bolt struggled with several injuries and was inconsistent, which restricted him from showing his full potential. It wasn’t until 2008 that Bolt gained the recognition that he was meant for.
During those struggling days, in 2005, Bolt became subject to his own ‘fixing‘ controversy when he couldn’t win the world championship and came last. Bolt was competing in the 200m race held in Helsinki, Finland. He specialized in this category and qualified for the finals with 20.03 seconds. But in the finals, Bolt finished last with a time of 26.27 seconds.
When asked, Bolt claimed to have suffered a sharp pain in his left hamstring just after the 50-meter mark of the race. To avoid further damage, he slowed down and jogged to the remaining end. However, some observers speculated that Bolt deliberately lost the race because he was intimated by his competitors, such as Tyson Gay, Justin Gatlin, and others.
During an interview with the Times, Bolt said, “Some people said I’d been paid to pull out…..people saw those reports and they take it seriously. I was very upset by it.” He also added, “I couldn’t believe that people would really think I would throw a race. I have never been approached and I think it’s hard to come to one person and get them to throw a race. As athletes, you never want to lose.”
The 2005 World Championships were a turning point in his life, as it made him realize how crucial and hard it is to train and have a disciplined diet.
Usain Bolt Went from Last Place in 2005 to World Record Holder in 2009
After losing the gold at the 2005 World Championships, Usain worked on his techniques with his new coach, Glen Mills, who also helped him build confidence. As a result, Bolt recorded the most iconic world record in 2008 when he won the fastest 100m race with a ground-breaking record of 9.58 seconds.
Watch: Usain Bolt’s stunning 100m world record in 2009 – ‘the most incredible piece of sprinting’https://t.co/lVWVl0mWqC (via @thefield_in)
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In fact, Bolt broke his own record of 9.69 seconds, set a year prior when he won the Olympic gold medal in Beijing. He broke his record with a margin of 0.11 seconds, which is the largest improvement margin in the 100m race.
The 22-year-old Usain Bolt also won the fastest run in 200m with a time of 19.19 seconds at the Berlin IAAF World Championships. He secured three gold medals at the Olympic Games for Jamaica in the 100m, 200m, and 4×100m. And he established himself as an Olympic legend.