Usain Bolt names the only rival that left him worried in the 100m
Usain Bolt has revealed the one competitor who made him nervous before races. The legendary sprinter was largely dominant during his decorated track career and, despite regularly showing a cool exterior, Bolt admits that it wasn’t always the case. Usain Bolt dominated sprinting before retiring in 2017Getty The Jamaican, who retired from the sport in 2017, says that fellow countryman Asafa Powell was the one figure that made him uncomfortable before lining up for a race. Bolt broke the world record in New York in 2008 with a run of 9.72 seconds but despite his supremacy, Powell was deemed a serious contender to Bolt’s throne. The pair faced off at the 2008 Jamaican Olympic Trials with Bolt finishing ahead of his compatriot. The victory handed Bolt the initiative going into the Beijing 2008 Summer Olympic Games, although the threat of Powell remained in his mind. Bolt shared an anecdote from his preparations for 2008 alongside American sprinter Walter Dix, who took bronze in China. “We ran the semi-finals together, and I ran like 9.8,” Bolt said of Dix during the podcast. “He came second, I think, and when we were walking in, he was like, ‘There ain’t going to be jogging in the finals! There ain’t going to be jogging in the finals!’” He continued: “I looked at him like, ‘What?’ It was funny because, no disrespect to him, but he never worried me. For me, I was worried about Asafa because I needed to catch him. I was not worried about Dix.” Bolt went on to explain that his top-end speed provided him with an advantage over Powell if he was well placed at the 50-metre mark. “Asafa was the only one who was like, if he got it right, you are in trouble,” Bolt said. “That was the only person I was worried about in the race because he can get it done. “If I am there in the race at 50 meters, I am going to win,” he continued. “I know that much because I know my top-end speed is that good. Asafa Powell was Bolt’s biggest nightmare during his career Bolt earned his third gold of the Beijing games as part of the victorious Jamaica team alongside Powell (right)Getty “I needed to get my start right, that was my biggest issue because in the season, I could tell where I was and how good my top-end was.” Bolt went on to dominate the track by winning eight Olympic gold medals in the 100m, 200m and 4x100m metres relay. He is the only sprinter to win Olympic 100m and 200m titles at three consecutive Olympics (2008, 2012, and 2016). He also won two 4×100 relay gold medals. There is little doubt that his rivalry with Powell helped push him to a higher level. And while Bolt may have boasted the more decorated career, his admission is a ringing endorsement to Powell’s talent.
Usain Bolt has revealed the one competitor who made him nervous before races.
The legendary sprinter was largely dominant during his decorated track career and, despite regularly showing a cool exterior, Bolt admits that it wasn’t always the case.
The Jamaican, who retired from the sport in 2017, says that fellow countryman Asafa Powell was the one figure that made him uncomfortable before lining up for a race.
Bolt broke the world record in New York in 2008 with a run of 9.72 seconds but despite his supremacy, Powell was deemed a serious contender to Bolt’s throne.
The pair faced off at the 2008 Jamaican Olympic Trials with Bolt finishing ahead of his compatriot.
The victory handed Bolt the initiative going into the Beijing 2008 Summer Olympic Games, although the threat of Powell remained in his mind.
Bolt shared an anecdote from his preparations for 2008 alongside American sprinter Walter Dix, who took bronze in China.
“We ran the semi-finals together, and I ran like 9.8,” Bolt said of Dix during the podcast. “He came second, I think, and when we were walking in, he was like, ‘There ain’t going to be jogging in the finals! There ain’t going to be jogging in the finals!’”
He continued: “I looked at him like, ‘What?’ It was funny because, no disrespect to him, but he never worried me. For me, I was worried about Asafa because I needed to catch him. I was not worried about Dix.”
Bolt went on to explain that his top-end speed provided him with an advantage over Powell if he was well placed at the 50-metre mark.
“Asafa was the only one who was like, if he got it right, you are in trouble,” Bolt said. “That was the only person I was worried about in the race because he can get it done.
“If I am there in the race at 50 meters, I am going to win,” he continued. “I know that much because I know my top-end speed is that good.
“I needed to get my start right, that was my biggest issue because in the season, I could tell where I was and how good my top-end was.”
Bolt went on to dominate the track by winning eight Olympic gold medals in the 100m, 200m and 4x100m metres relay.
He is the only sprinter to win Olympic 100m and 200m titles at three consecutive Olympics (2008, 2012, and 2016). He also won two 4×100 relay gold medals.
There is little doubt that his rivalry with Powell helped push him to a higher level.
And while Bolt may have boasted the more decorated career, his admission is a ringing endorsement to Powell’s talent.
