Usain St. Leo Bolt, widely regarded as the greatest sprinter of all time, is a Jamaican athlete who dominated the 100m and 200m sprint events for over a decade. Born on August 21, 1986, in Trelawny Parish, Jamaica, Bolt's journey from a young prodigy to a world champion is filled with remarkable achievements and milestones. Here is a timeline of his significant events and periods.
Birth
August 21, 1986
Usain St. Leo Bolt was born in Sherwood Content, a small village in Trelawny Parish, Jamaica. He was born with scoliosis, which later affected his running style.
World Junior Champion
2002
At the age of 15, Bolt won the 200m gold medal at the World Junior Championships in Kingston, Jamaica, becoming the youngest-ever male world junior champion in any event.
Olympic Debut
2004
Bolt made his Olympic debut at the Athens 2004 Olympics but failed to advance beyond the 200m heats due to a hamstring injury.
Silver at World Championships
2007
Bolt won silver medals in the 200m and 4x100m relay at the World Championships in Osaka, Japan, marking a significant step towards his future success.
Olympic Glory
2008
At the Beijing 2008 Olympics, Bolt became the first man since Carl Lewis in 1984 to win the 100m, 200m, and 4x100m relay in a single Olympics, setting world records in all three events.
World Records
2009
Bolt shattered his 100m record at the World Championships in Berlin, winning the event in 9.58 seconds, and also broke his own 200m record to win a second gold medal.
Olympic Dominance
2012
At the London 2012 Olympics, Bolt defended his titles in the 100m and 200m events, becoming the first person to win both races in consecutive Olympiads.
Triple Triple
2016
Bolt cemented his legacy by winning gold medals in the 100m, 200m, and 4x100m relay at the Rio 2016 Olympics, achieving the 'Triple Triple' and solidifying his status as the greatest sprinter of all time.
Retirement
2017
Bolt retired from athletics after the 2017 World Championships, where he won a bronze medal in the 100m sprint and finished eighth in the 4x100m relay due to a hamstring injury.
Post-Athletics Ventures
2018
Bolt started training with Norwegian soccer side Strømsgodset and later played friendly games for Australian side Central Coast Mariners, though he ultimately decided not to pursue a professional soccer career.
