Dubai: The legendary former British runner Roger Bannister, who ran the first sub-four-minute mile in 1954, once said: “No one can say: ‘You must not run faster than this, or jump higher than that.’ The human spirit is indomitable.”
It’s a statement that perfectly encapsulates the never-ending drive for improvement shared by all elite athletes, who strain every sinew to fulfil the Olympic motto of ‘Citius, Altius, Fortius’ – meaning ‘Faster, Higher, Stronger’.
There’s arguably no greater embodiment of this aspiration than Usain Bolt, the fastest man on the planet, whose irresistible surges into the history books have elicited eulogies galore and even led to scientific studies analysing his preternatural pace.
For, despite having won six Olympic gold medals, eight world titles and being the world-record holder in the men’s 100 metres and 200 metres, the 27-year-old Jamaican’s voracious appetite for success is not yet sated and he insists his best is yet to come.
As Bolt once said, in a pithier summation of Bannister’s remark: “I don’t think limits.”
In an exclusive interview with Gulf News, Bolt expounded on his relentless quest for glory underpinned by his mantra ‘Anything is possible’, and explained why he is so confident he can add more lustre to his legacy of greatness.
Prior to taking part in the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, which begin on Wednesday, Bolt said: “Why do I think I can lower my 100-metre and 200-metre world records? My coach, Glen Mills, is the world’s greatest sprint coach. He knows sprinting better than anyone. He thinks it is possible for me to break my world records and, if he says so, I believe him.
“The key is to get a good training period with no injuries and get in good shape.”
Yet no less an expert than American athletics great Michael Johnson, like Bolt a multiple Olympic and world champion, doubts whether the Jamaican superstar can improve on staggering global bests of 9.58 seconds for the 100 metres and 19.19 secs for the 200 metres.
Johnson, the 400-metre world-record holder, whose 200m global best of 19.32 secs Bolt first surpassed in 2008, said earlier this year: “If I had to guess and go out there and say, ‘Have we seen the best of him?’. I would say: ‘Probably.’ But you never know with him.
“As a sprinter gets older, you are not going to get faster.”
The 6ft 5ins Bolt, as languid off the track as he is powerful and dynamic on it, takes such comments in his long and loping stride, however.
“My main aim is to defend my World Championship and Olympic titles. If I can run faster and break some more world records, then it will also make me happy.”
But firstly, Bolt is relishing the chance to try and secure the only major gold medal eluding him at the Commonwealth Games.
However, he will compete only in the 4x100-metre relay after missing the Jamaican trials last month following his rehabilitation from a foot injury, which has ruled him out of action this season.
He said: “I do not wish to take the place of anyone who qualifies in an individual event, but am available for relay duty if the selectors feel I can be an asset to the Jamaican team in Glasgow. I have received lots of requests, invitations and messages of support from my fans in Scotland, who are looking forward to a great event.”
If he adds another gold medal to his considerable collection, one wonders what remains for this sporting phenomenon to achieve.
Given his stunning supremacy at sprints (he lost only his fifth 100-metre race last year, for instance), would Bolt consider attempting longer distances — the 400m, perhaps, as desired by Johnson? Or how about tackling a marathon for fun?
Bolt replied emphatically: “I have no interest in running the 400m. I have definitely no interest in running a marathon. Marathon runners and sprinters are completely different.”
Similarly, while he took part in a race against a bus in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in December 2013 (which Bolt won, unsurprisingly), do not expect him to repeat such stunts against a cheetah or another animal famed for its blistering speed.
Bolt said: “I rarely run against anyone other than sprinters. I don’t think I will be racing any animals anytime soon.”
While he may be capable of superhuman sporting acts, like every mortal Bolt cannot defy the ticking hand of time, and to this end he accepts retirement is looming large on the horizon.
“I will retire from athletics either after the 2016 Olympic Games or the 2017 World Championships,” he said. “For this year, I plan to run a number of races, but the main thing is to end the season healthy and fresh as I have to train very hard for 2015 and 2016.”
Of his future plans, Bolt does not harbour any ambitions to become an athletics coach, but hopes to remain in the sport in some capacity.
Would he be interested in helping out athletes in the UAE?
“I have not yet been there, but hopefully someone will invite me to come soon,” he said.
Bolt is also eager to parade his talents in another sport – football – when his track-and-field days come to an end.
He said: “I played a lot of cricket when I was younger, but nowadays I’m more interested in football. I would like to play football at some level when I retire from track and field. I am a big Manchester United fan and last season was tough for us. I am excited about next season as we try to rebuild our team.
“I have watched the World Cup with interest to see if there are some players who could be interesting for United.
Myself, I am a midfield player.”
Action man
He added that he is also keen to maintain his work with his foundation, which supports underprivileged youngsters in Jamaica, and other business interests.
Given his easygoing charm, charisma and seemingly perpetual sunny disposition, Bolt will undoubtedly not be short of offers for media work when he calls time on his stellar career.
It’s an arena which he has already entered, too, to humorous effect.
A Virgin Media television advert for superfast broadband in the United Kingdom is capitalising on his penchant for clowning around, portraying Bolt playing members of the same family.
The multi-talented Jamaican, who is also a keen music fan, says further work of this ilk would appeal to him when he hangs up his running shoes.
“I get quite a few offers from TV and acting,” he said. “It may be something I would consider in the future.”
For now, however, Bolt’s comic routines — including his signature lightning bolt celebration — will be confined to the track.
Explaining the origin of the iconic, arm-pointing-upwards action, which has established him as the greatest showman in sport, Bolt said: “It started in 2008 at the Olympic Games in Beijing. It is an adaption from a dance in Jamaica. People seemed to like it, so now it is my trademark pose and is called ‘To di world’.”
His pre-race posturing suggests Bolt is calmness and confidence personified.
Yet he admits that even he is not immune to nerves and self-doubt.
“It all depends on the training,” he said. “If I am in good shape and injury free, then I am confident of winning. I usually play around at the start to entertain the fans and make them smile.”
Such a persona masks the fact that Bolt remains supremely dedicated to his sport, a fact gruesomely depicted by a video he posted on YouTube earlier this year showing himself throwing up after a gruelling training session.
“I want to let people see that success takes a lot of hard work behind the scenes,” he explained.
Of course, Bolt’s success owes mostly to his innate natural talent — but even he is not good at everything. “I am not a good swimmer,” Bolt said.
His untrammelled track success over the past decade was also besmirched by memorable failure at the 2011 World Championships, when he was disqualified from the 100-metre final due to a false start.
“I always say that you can’t change the past, so no point to dwell on it,” said Bolt, when asked if he regretted being denied the chance to defend his 2009 crown. He is similarly unfazed by those who criticised him for celebrating ahead of the finishing line in the 2008 Olympic Games 100m final, when he could have achieved an even more impressive time than his then world record of 9.69 secs.
“Do I regret doing that? Not at all,” he said. “It was a natural reaction. I became the first Jamaican man to win the Olympic Games 100m and that was my goal. I ran faster in other races. In fact, I regret more not running through the line in the 2012 Olympic Games, as that could have been a world record.”
An incident off the track was also a seminal moment for Bolt — a 2009 car crash, when he was fortunate to emerge with only scratches when his car overturned in a ditch in his native Jamaica.
He explained: “When you have an experience like that, it makes you stop and think. I was born with all this talent and it is my duty to ensure I get a chance to show the world what I can do. People should be thankful for what they have because at any moment it can all be taken away.”
Positive memories far outweigh those of a negative nature for Bolt, but it is a somewhat of a surprise to learn that his favourite sporting recollection is not one of his world-record runs.
“I think that would be my first big win, which was the World Junior 200m title in Kingston in 2002,” he said. I was only 15 years old competing against under 20s, but it was very special because it was in front of my own people.”
It’s little wonder that Bolt romped to victory in a time of 20.61, given that he was already 6ft 5ins and had the massive stride length to comfortably outpace his shorter rivals.
Bolt had quickly realised at school that he had a prodigious running ability and took up athletics following encouragement from his teachers.
He recalls enjoying a ‘perfect’ childhood, in which he revelled in expending his energy outdoors.
“I grew up in the country and had a lot of fun,” he said. “I was full of energy and always outside running around and playing games.”
As his running career gathered pace, he says watching videos of legendary Jamaican athletes Don Quarrie, the 1976 Olympic 200m champion, and four-time Games medallist in the 1940s and 1950s, Herb McKenley, greatly inspired him.
“When I was a teenager, it was Michael Johnson on top in the 200m and 400m [who inspired me],” he added.
So as Bolt bids to bring more pride and joy to Jamaica with relay success at the Commonwealth Games, how does he assess his own legacy?
Does he, like luminaries such as Muhammad Ali and Pele, deserve the title sporting legend, and who does he think currently merits this status?
Bolt said: “Some people call me a legend based on what I have achieved, but I will let others decide on this. For me, [Cristiano] Ronaldo and [Lionel] Messi are legends on the football pitch. Sir Alex Ferguson was a legendary football manager, and there are so many in all sports that it is difficult to name names.
“Is there a new Usain Bolt? There is always a lot of talent coming through, particularly in the sprints in Jamaica. I think it is unfair to label anyone the next Usain Bolt. Let them be themselves.”
Bolt is right. While he lives by the mantra ‘anything is possible’, few can conceive of matching this peerless athlete’s prowess, let alone have any thoughts of becoming his successor.
Unless, of course, they force him to don his swimming trunks and challenge him to a duel in the pool.
