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Bolt rewrote history at the Beijing Olympics by shattering Michael Johnson's 200-meter world record, but it might never have happened if not for an unexpected pep talk from his roommate.
In the summer of 2008, Usain Bolt rewrote history at the Beijing Olympics, but one of his most iconic feats—the shattering of Michael Johnson’s 19.32-second 200-meter world record—might never have happened if not for an unexpected pep talk from his roommate.
At the time, Bolt was fresh off a jaw-dropping performance in the 100 meters, where he stormed to gold with a world record time of 9.69 seconds. Despite visibly celebrating before the finish line and running with an untied shoelace, Bolt had already proven himself a phenomenon on the track.
Experts estimated that had he maintained full effort, Bolt could have clocked an astonishing 9.55 seconds. However, his focus was on gold, not records, as he explained.
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16:21 - 15.12.2024
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Usain Bolt smashed Michael Johnson's 12-year 200 meter world record in 2008, but the American great has explained why Bolt would never have stood a chance of beating him if both ever got to actually compete on the same track.
"I wasn't bragging. When I saw I wasn't covered, I was just happy," Bolt said, responding to criticism of his celebratory chest-slapping near the finish line.
Still, the conversation soon shifted to his chances in the 200 meters, an event where Michael Johnson’s long-standing world record of 19.32 seconds seemed untouchable. Even Bolt himself didn’t think it was within reach—until his roommate, Jamaican decathlete Maurice Smith, planted the seed of belief.
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Speaking on the High Performance Podcast, Bolt recalled how this pivotal conversation changed his perspective:
“I remember it was after the 200 meters that I really thought about it because in 2008, Michael Johnson’s world record looked far away from breaking. I was running okay.
“We were having a conversation, and he was like, ‘Are you going to go for the 200 world record?’ And I go, ‘That is hard to get,’ and he was like, ‘Why not? You just jogged to the world record in the 100 meters. Why not go for it in the 200?’
“I sat down going back and forth and was like, ‘You know what? Why not try?’”
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19:13 - 14.12.2024
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Bolt’s self-doubt stemmed from the enormity of Johnson’s achievement at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. At that event, Johnson ran a blistering 19.32 seconds—a time that had remained unbeaten for 12 years. But Maurice Smith’s encouragement shifted Bolt’s mindset, sparking a realization that there were no limits to what he could achieve.
“I limited myself because I told myself there was no way I would break that 200-meter record. I was not running that fast. But after that, I realized that anything was possible. Do not think about limits. Do not limit yourself. Never think it cannot be done.”
On August 20, 2008, Bolt stepped onto the track for the 200-meter final with newfound determination. Unlike the 100 meters, where he slowed down to celebrate, Bolt sprinted full throttle to the finish line, even dipping his chest to shave precious milliseconds off his time. The result? A jaw-dropping 19.30 seconds—a new world and Olympic record that defied expectations and cemented Bolt’s place in history.
Bolt’s victory was particularly remarkable given that he faced a headwind of 0.9 m/s, which only made his achievement more extraordinary. His record-breaking performance not only dethroned Johnson but also proved that no goal was too ambitious when coupled with self-belief and relentless effort.
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12:20 - 13.12.2024
'You want them to be better than you' - Usain Bolt agrees with Linford Christie on how Noah Lyles, Kishane Thompson & Co can shatter his records
Usain Bolt agrees with Linford Christie's stance on how modern sprint stars like Noah Lyles, Kishane Thompson and Co can strive to shatter their records.
The moment was celebrated worldwide, and fittingly, the stadium played “Happy Birthday” as Bolt’s 22nd birthday was just hours away. Reflecting on that historic run, Bolt’s words remain a testament to the power of mindset:
“After that, I realized that anything was possible.”
Thanks to a candid conversation with Maurice Smith, Bolt broke through mental barriers and turned the seemingly impossible into a reality, leaving a legacy that continues to inspire generations.
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