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Usain Bolt was once booed by his own fans at the National Stadium in Kingston, Jamaica back in 2006, an experience he says 'he has never forgotten'.
Usain Bolt, the undisputed sprint king, whose career boasts eight Olympic gold medals and world records in the 100 and 200 meters, has opened up about a humbling moment from his early career when he was harshly booed by his home fans at Kingston’s National Stadium.
This was long before he became the legend who clocked a jaw-dropping 9.58 seconds in the 100 meters and 19.19 seconds in the 200 meters, both set at the 2009 World Championships in Berlin.
During an interview with Asafa Powell on his The Powells YouTube channel, Bolt revisited this dark chapter, recounting the 2006 Gibson Relays.
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07:30 - 19.12.2024
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At that time, he was primarily a 400-meter runner trying to find his footing after a series of setbacks, including a disappointing 2004 Olympics performance and injury troubles that derailed his 2005 World Athletics Championships campaign.
“It was a 4x400 race. I have never forgotten it. It was in ’06,” Bolt shared. “I came and ran, and I kind of pushed, but my body was not allowing it. Running down the straight, I was booed. A lot of people do not know that.”
The sting of being jeered by his own compatriots was a defining moment for the young sprinter. “It was rough, but I have been through it,” he continued. “This is what I tell athletes—not every day is summertime. A lot of people work hard and push themselves. It is not always perfect. There are injuries in this thing, and there are several ups and downs, but getting booed in your own country is never good. Jamaican people do not play.”
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20:42 - 29.10.2024
'I did it for myself first' - Usain Bolt agrees with Asafa Powell's advice to Kishane Thompson on the 'demanding' nature of Jamaican fans
Usain Bolt has agreed with Asafa Powell on the nature of Jamaican fans after the latter recently offered advice to Kishane Thompson on why he should not feel oblidged to carry the country his t back.
The eight-time Olympic champion revealed how he overcame the weight of fan expectations. Growing up in Jamaica, Bolt quickly learned the fickle nature of public opinion on another interview on the High Performance Podcast “If you did well, they would be like ‘Oh yeah!’ and if you did bad, they would be like ‘Boo!’” he said, illustrating the extreme highs and lows of being in the public eye.
Initially, Bolt focused entirely on meeting the expectations of his country. “I believed that every race was a duty to my country,” he admitted. But as criticism mounted during tough times, it began to take a toll on his mental resilience.
“I kind of figured out that ‘If I do well, they are going to love me. If I don’t do so well, they won’t love me so much,’” Bolt explained. “That is when I figured out that I had to do this for myself first.”
This shift in perspective became the foundation of his legendary career. By prioritizing his own goals over external pressures, Bolt transformed into the dominant force who captured global admiration and etched his name in the history books.
Bolt’s journey from being booed at the National Stadium to becoming a global icon is a testament to resilience and self-belief. Despite the harsh criticism in his early years, he rose to redefine what it means to be a sprinter, consistently performing at an unmatched level.
Even as debates resurface, such as a recent 3D simulation comparing Bolt to Xu Bingtian, Asia’s fastest man, the Jamaican icon remains a benchmark for excellence. His story serves as a reminder that setbacks, no matter how painful, can be the stepping stones to greatness.
“You have to learn to push past the noise,” Bolt concluded. “At the end of the day, you’re running for yourself.”
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