The name Usain Bolt evokes a sense of reverence among track and field fans that’s matched by few. With eight Olympic gold medals under his belt, the Jamaican juggernaut is still considered the benchmark that all sprinters vie to match. Despite retiring years ago, Bolt’s popularity hasn’t dwindled. However, even the greatest sprinter of all time had to struggle to learn the subtleties of the sport that made him the phenom he is today.

Considering the staggering number of world records Bolt boasts, you’d think he didn’t have to rise through the ranks by hardship like most of his colleagues. And yet, you’d be stunned to know that with all his speed, even Usain Bolt couldn’t outpace the criticism that came his way. However, being the elite performer that he is, the speedster found a way to block out the naysayers’ harsh words.

Being hurled into a different kind of setup couldn’t change Usain Bolt

When you reach heights like the Jamaican icon, you’ll get a good lesson about how passionate the fans can be. From being placed upon an altar to being thoroughly criticized for any slight display of weakness, Bolt has experienced both sides of adulation. However, on the High Performance Podcast podcast with Jake Humphrey and Damien Hughes, the men’s 100m and 200m world record holder explained how overnight fame after the 2008 Beijing Olympics also gave him an important lesson about the track community.

In the YouTube upload from October 28, Bolt talked about how he taught himself to not pay heed to the fans’ reactions while competing. This, he explained, happened after he realized that his chippy attitude and dancing during and after races didn’t sit well with many of the community members. In the podcast, Bolt said, “That was just my personality…I was vibing,” and recalled how his peppy persona from his youth days didn’t change even when he stepped into the ring with the big boys. And that, Bolt noted, ticked off a few people.

“People were like, ‘What are you doing?’ Because everybody was serious. I was like, ‘Yo, I’m just being myself’,” Bolt said and elaborated about why the thought of being all grumpy on the tracks never made sense to him. Moreover, Bolt’s celebration even before crossing the finishing line at the Beijing Games made many complain that it was an act of disrespect on his part. However, his opponents from the race assured Bolt that he was right to feel jubilant, especially considering the hefty margin he was winning by. While he was trying hard to keep his feet planted on the ground, Bolt was also eyeing immortality in the track and field community.

The high benchmark that Bolt strived for

During the same discussion, Bolt also noted how his stint at the 2004 Athens Games was like a “slap to the face” that gave him a stern reality check. “I was still young. I was still like, saying, ‘Oh! Because I got injured in the season a little bit. You know…” he told the hosts, noting how he needed a jolt to his system to become the track legend we know him as today.

And once he achieved that coveted accolade, Bolt immediately knew he had to do something that would last decades before being broken by his successors. “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,” the Jamaican casually elaborates.

Over the years, many have speculated Lyles to be the next in line to overthrow Usain Bolt from his kingly seat. From Noah Lyles to Bolt’s fellow Jamaican Kishane Thompson, the challengers have been many, but his records still stand tall. Sometimes, even Bolt seemed to give in to the anticipation and speculate if the American track star Lyles could be the one to usurp his status. “… I think if he corrects a few things – I won’t say – he could get better,” Bolt said about Lyles’ chances, but the Paris Games once again proved that the 38-year-old’s legacy isn’t in any danger yet.

So who do you think will be the one to trounce Bolt from his high mantle? Tell us your speculation about when and how the men’s 100m and 200m records will slip from Bolt’s grasp in the comments.