Usain Bolt: the world`s fastest man in the 100 and 200 meters

World sprinting sensation Usain Bolt is Jamaica’s ambassador of hope.

Born into a poor family in Trelawny, a Jamaican town with a history of the African slave trade in the 18th century, Bolt played cricket and soccer when young before turning into a global star in track and field. Jamaica, a small island nation with a population of 2.8 million in 2008, has numerous Bolt wannabes.

The sprinter ranked second in the men’s 200 meters and 4x100-meter relay in the 2007 Osaka World Championships, but regained his title as the world’s fastest man by setting world records of 9.69 seconds in the 100 meters and 19.3 seconds in the 200 meters in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Bolt stunned the world by winning the 400 meters to become a triple Olympic champion, bringing a paradigm shift in men’s sprinting, which had been dominated by the U.S.

In the 2009 Berlin World Championships, he broke his own world record with 9.58 seconds in the 100 meters and 19.19 seconds in the 200 meters, making people say only aliens can compete against him. This is because he broke 9.6 seconds in the 100 meters, which had been believed to be the human limit.

"The human limit is 9.4 seconds. I will break the record,” Bolt said.

A lot of training has made the sprinter what he is today. In the offseason, he builds up strength in his calves by running on grass tracks because grass is soft enough not to pressure his legs and ankles and strengthens muscles.

Bolt is tall but also trains himself for the 400 meters for an effective and powerful sprint. To run 200 meters at full speed, he has to cover a longer distance with ease. He practices starting with a rubber belt around his waist and dragging an old tire.

yjongk@donga.com