Usain Bolt (born 21 August 1986) is a Jamaican sprinter. He is the current world record holder in the 100 m (9.72 s), the world junior (19.93 s) and Jamaican record holder over 200 m (19.67 s). His name and achievements in sprinting have earned him the media nickname "The Lightning Bolt". He is curently the world's fastest man, with his 9.72 second 100 meter dash in New York on May 31, 2008. In 2004 Bolt ran the 200 m in 19.93 seconds, becoming the first junior to break the 20-second mark; breaking Lorenzo Daniel's world junior record.
At the 2007 Jamaican Championships, Bolt ran 19.75, breaking the 36-year-old national record held by Don Quarrie by 0.11 seconds. At the World Championships in Osaka, Bolt won a silver medal in the 200 m behind American Tyson Gay.
On 3 May 2008, Bolt ran 9.76 (+1.8 m/s) in the 100 m at the Jamaica Invitational, then the second fastest legal performance in the history of the event, behind compatriot Asafa Powell. Later that month, on 31 May 2008, Bolt ran 9.72 (+1.7 m/s), establishing a new world record in the 100 m at the Reebok Grand Prix in New York, breaking the 9.74-second record of Powell.[2] This was only his 5th senior run over the distance. Bolt is highly rated by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) and has received two IAAF Rising Star awards. The IAAF has described Bolt as "the future of 200 m running".[citation needed] He is coached by Glen Mills and currently attends the University of Technology, Jamaica. Bolt has 4 sub-10 seconds in 100 m and 11 sub-20 seconds in the 200 m.
Bolt's main rival at 100m. is Tayson Gay.
On June 28, 2008, in the 100 meters quarterfinal at the U.S. Olympic Trials in Eugene, Oregon, Gay finished in 9.77 seconds, setting an American record and sliding into 3rd all-time.[6]. In the 100 m final the following day, Gay finished first in a wind-aided 9.68 (+4.1 m/s), the fastest ever 100 m under any conditions. However, on July 5, Gay injured his leg qualifying for the 200 meters. Some speculate this may keep him out of Beijing, but his manager said, "There is no apparent damage otherwise, except for some road rash from the fall." I think Bolt will feel better than Gay after 20 days and my pick is Usaine Bolt to win a gold medal at Beijing at the 100 metres.
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