Usain Bolt reveals one competitor who made him nervous before races
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Reading Time: 3min | Sat. 15.03.25. | 16:15
The two sprinting giants clashed at the 2008 Jamaican Olympic Trials, where Bolt emerged victorious
World 100m and 200m record holder Usain Bolt has revealed that despite his usual confident demeanor, there was a competitor who sent shivers down his spine before stepping on the track.
The celebrated Jamaican sprinter noted that fellow countryman Asafa Powell was the one competitor who made him uncomfortable.
When Bolt broke the world record in New York in 2008 with a run of 9.72 seconds in the race, Powell was deemed a favorite and a serious competitor to Bolt’s throne.
The two sprinting giants clashed at the 2008 Jamaican Olympic Trials, where Bolt emerged victorious, securing his place as the frontrunner heading into the Beijing Olympics. But even after that win, Powell remained in his thoughts.
Sharing an anecdote from his preparations for Beijing, Bolt recalled a conversation with American sprinter Walter Dix, who would go on to win bronze at the Games.
“We ran the semi-finals together, and I ran like 9.8. He came second, I think, and when we were walking in, he was like, ‘There aren’t going to be jogging in the finals! There isn’t going to be jogging in the finals!’” he recalled.
Bolt admitted that Dix’s comment did not faze him, but Powell’s presence always did.
“For me, I was worried about Asafa because I needed to catch him. I was not worried about Dix,” Bolt said.
He explained that Powell’s explosiveness out of the blocks meant he could be a serious problem if he executed his race perfectly.
“Asafa was the only one who was like, if he got it right, you are in trouble. 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. I know that much because I know my top-end speed is that good,” he admitted.
Bolt’s start was always his biggest concern, but once he got into his stride, he knew few could match his acceleration. His ability to maintain top speed longer than his competitors was what set him apart from the rest.
"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,” he said.
Bolt went on to dominate the track by winning eight Olympic gold medals in the 100m, 200m, and 4x100m meters 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 4x100 relay gold medals.
Though Powell never claimed an individual Olympic gold, there is little doubt that the rivalry helped push Bolt to a higher level.
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