Who springs to mind when you think of the undisputed GOAT of the track? It’s none other than Usain Bolt! With a legacy that’s as lightning as his speed, the man who rose to the pinnacle of sprinting glory is the eight-time Olympic champion and reigning world record holder in the 100 meters, 200 meters, and 4 × 100 meters relay. His record book is nearly untouchable, and he’s made it clear he’s hardly losing sleep over the idea of anyone catching up. Just last year, Bolt shared his easygoing take on record-breaking with World Athletics, where he was asked which of his marks he thinks might go down first. His response? “Not worried about none of them.” Classic Bolt confidence.

Bolt’s record of 9.58 sec in 100m and 19.19 sec in 200m set in the year 2009 World Championships in Berlin still looks formidable in the world of athletics. Breaking down his thoughts on each race, he said, “I think the hundred will be harder (to break) because it’s quicker. If you make a mistake during the race, you’re not going to get it. It’s a lot more technical.” And now, in true Bolt fashion, he’s once again touched on the question this year—can anyone close in on the GOAT?

In a recent episode of High Performance, Usain Bolt shared his opinion about why nobody will ever beat his record and maybe a tip on how someone could. He revealed what it took for him to be referred to as the GOAT, by stating that for one to be referred to as a legend, one has to accomplish what others cannot. Before becoming a World Champion, Bolt looked up to Carl Lewis, who had back to back Olympic 100m titles, and Bolt had to ask himself, “How could I set myself apart from everyone?” His solution? Elevate his legend to another level so that anybody else who wants to try and compete better starts developing the professional or athletic prowess of Michael Jordan.

Usain Bolt wasn’t just chasing medals—he was building a legacy. With every victory, he set a standard that would push future athletes to new heights. “And in years to come, if somebody was to be greater than me, they would actually have to do four Olympics and break world records. I tried to set the bar so high that it’d probably never be broken,” he explained, making it clear that surpassing his achievements would require a superhuman effort. And in true Bolt style, he wrapped it all up with his signature flair: “So that was my main goal, and I got it, so cheers to me.” Safe to say, Bolt’s legacy wasn’t just fast—it’s built to last.

But back in 2008, the world could already witness Usain Bolt racing at the Reebok Grand Prix, where he set a world record at the 100 meters while leaving Tyson Gay amazed. Gay even joked, “It looked like his knee was going past my face.” Then came Beijing, and Bolt raised it even further as he crossed the line in 9.69 seconds, way ahead of other competitors. Next up? The 200 to try to be a double winner like Carl Lewis in ‘84. Just being Bolt, he merely strolled through each round, sprinting to the final as if he had barely warmed up.

And that’s exactly what Bolt did when he achieved the “triple-triple” in the 2016 Olympics: three gold medals in three Olympic Games. He then successfully defended his Olympic title for his final performance of the Olympics, going undefeated in the finals, but hold up, as when it comes to the moments that are closer to his heart, it’s not just those records and medals that he takes home but other things stick with him.

Usain Bolt finds something else close to his heart!

You heard it right! Yes, for all of Usain Bolt’s marvelous Olympic triumphs and records, none can really warm the cockles of a Jamaican’s heart as much as his epoch-making 2002 Junior Champion performance in Kingston. Bolt in the recent past described this early victory on home soil as his proudest moment of a moment that defined everything that came afterwards.

At only fifteen years of age, Bolt won the gold against the backdrop of Jamaican fans and the pressure depressed him. Speaking on High Performance podcast, he said, “One of my greatest moments that I love is it was the first time I won in front of my home crowd. I think that made such a big impact on my life.” That particular day, Bolt had the jitters. That pressure was so enormous he even confused his shoes! “I was so nervous… I put the wrong shoe on the wrong foot because I couldn’t focus. I was just so stressed.”

But that win became a personal compass, a new direction for him, a boost of confidence that would help him through his career. “I said to myself, if I can win in front of my home crowd that nervous, that really set the benchmark for me through my years to be better,” Bolt said. This win before his home fans in Kingston ignited him to sparkle like a fire through the track world and transform him into a track icon of today.