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Xavier Carter, once a sprinting wonderkid, humiliated Usain Bolt by trash-talking him and then beating him at a race in 2007, which left him 'p***ed' for a year until he won the 2008 Olympics.
Retired American sprinter Wallace Spearmon recently shared a hilarious and insightful account of how former American sprinter Xavier Carter once humiliated the legendary Usain Bolt, leaving him so irritated that it may have fueled his record-breaking performances at the 2008 Olympics.
In a candid conversation with fellow athletes Justin Gatlin and Rodney Green, Spearmon recalled how a race in Zurich, hyped by Carter’s provocative taunts, led to one of Bolt’s few moments of embarrassment on the track.
The story takes place shortly after the 2007 World Championships in Osaka, where Bolt had just clinched a silver medal and Spearmon took bronze in the 200 meters, behind gold medalist Tyson Gay. While wrapping up their season in the Golden League, Spearmon received an unexpected call from Carter, who issued a playful but bold threat.
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“Bolt and I were cool and just hanging out when my phone rang,” Spearmon recalled. “It was a random Louisiana number, and I answered.
"This is X, fool!" Carter said. "Yeah, you just had your world championship and got your medal. When you get over here in Zurich, I’mma have my world championship and tear your a** up.’”
When Spearmon told Bolt about Carter’s audacious challenge, the Jamaican responded with a confident, “I ain’t no scared of no X!” Rather than stress about it, Bolt enjoyed the pre-race festivities, but Spearmon chose to sit the race out, citing exhaustion.
On race day, Carter delivered on his word. As the race began, he kept up with Bolt on the curve—a spot where Bolt usually pulled ahead of his competitors. At 50 meters, Carter surged ahead, and in the final stretch, he glanced at Bolt and made an “X” gesture with his arms, crossing the finish line in 19.6 seconds. “I was glad I was in the stands for that one,” Spearmon quipped, recalling Bolt’s reaction.
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For Bolt, who was usually unbeatable, the experience stung. “Bolt was mad…until he won the Olympics, he was p***ed,” Spearmon said, noting that the Jamaican sprinter’s drive to prove himself only intensified after the unexpected defeat.
The two sprinters met again in another race, and Spearmon recalled the fiery intensity Bolt brought to the rematch. “We were all hanging around before the race when Bolt grabbed me by the jersey and said, ‘If you don’t beat him right now, I swear to God we are not friends,’” Spearmon recounted, adding with a laugh that he felt the pressure to deliver.
Spearmon did indeed rise to the challenge, winning the race in 19.88 seconds. Carter finished second, while Bolt came in a disappointing fourth—a rare outcome for the Olympic GOAT.
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But the experience appeared to fuel Bolt’s ambition, and just months later, he would go on to shatter records at the 2008 Olympics, setting new benchmarks in the 100m and 200m sprints.
Xavier Carter, known for his brash confidence, had an illustrious high school track career, winning nine Florida state titles and setting multiple records in the 100, 200, and 400 meters.
But his taunting of Bolt that day in Zurich left a lasting impression, adding fuel to the fire of the fastest man in history and setting the stage for one of the most iconic Olympic performances ever witnessed.
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