Track and Field

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Lightning Bolt. (Track and Field News, 01 Sep 2003)

Hobbies

Watching basketball, playing dominoes, listening to Jamaican dancehall music, dancing and partying. (Jamaican Athletics, 14 Oct 2003; bbc.co.uk, 18 Aug 2008; smh.com.au, 06 Sep 2011)

Occupation

Athlete

Club name

Racers Athletic Club, Kingston, JAM

Coach

Glen Mills from 2004 (espn.co.uk, 29 Dec 2011)

Debut

2004 for Jamaica, Olympic Games (Athens) (nbcolympics.com, 10 May 2012)

Injuries

An injured Achilles tendon in his left ankle kept him out of competition for five weeks in 2010. He returned to action at the Diamond League event in Lausanne in July before back problems brought his year to an end in August. (bbc.co.uk, 08 Jul 2010, 06 Aug 2010; dailymail.co.uk, 24 May 2011)

In April 2009 he crashed his BMW M3 on a wet road outside of Kingston. The car overturned, rolled into a ditch and was severely damaged. Neither he, his brother nor a female passenger were seriously injured, although he was treated for scratches and a minor foot injury. He missed about a month of training and competition. (guardian.co.uk, 01 May 2009; nbcolympics.com, 10 May 2012)

He was forced to miss the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, Australia with a hamstring injury. (usainbolt.com, 17 Aug 2009)

Additional information

Start of sporting career

He started sprinting during his days at William Knibb Memorial High School in Trelawny, Jamaica. (jamaica-gleaner.com, 18 Aug 2008)

Reason for taking up this sport

He played cricket for his school as his height made him a natural fast bowler. The cricket coach recognised he was also quick on his feet and suggested he try sprinting. (sherbrooke2003.ca, 24 Sep 2003)

Ambitions

To become a legend. (bbc.co.uk, 20 Aug 2009)

Training

He works on a cyclical training basis. At the start of a season he works on strength development before concentrating on coordination and biomechanical execution as the season develops. (usainbolt.com, 10 May 2012)

Hero

The United States' world and Olympic champion sprinter Michael Johnson and Jamaica's Olympic champions Herb McKenley - who won gold in the 4x400m at the 1952 Helsinki Games, and Don Quarrie - who won gold in the 200m at the 1976 Montreal Games. "If you sit and watch Don Quarrie, he is one of the smoothest bend runners ever." (bbc.co.uk, 18 Aug 2008)

Most influential person in career

Coach Glen Mills. "He is like a father figure to me," he said. "He has never done me any wrong and he has always made the right decisions. He is a guiding light and he has shown me the way to improve myself both as a person and as an athlete." (AFP, 24 Nov 2008)

Superstitions / Rituals

"The night before [a race] I decide what I need to do. Then on the day I just try to relax, think about other stuff, maybe cars or something. If you think about racing too much you may just lose it a little bit." (bbc.co.uk, 18 Aug 2008)

Awards

In recognition of his achievements, he has received various titles from the Jamaican government, as well as an honorary degree from the University of West Indies. With all honorifics, his official title is: Dr the Honourable Ambassador Usain St Leo Bolt, OJ. (jamaica-gleaner.com, 05 Oct 2008; smh.com.au, 06 Sep 2011; jis.gov.jm, 10 May 2012)

He has been conferred a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation [UNESCO] Champion for Sport. (jis.gov.jm, 10 May 2012)

He received the IAAF World Athlete of the Year award in 2008, 2009 and 2011. (iaaf.org, 12 Nov 2011)

He was named Laureus World Sportsman of the Year in 2009 and 2010. (laureus.com, 10 May 2012)

General

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