9.58 and 19.19 seconds: astute track and field fans remember these numbers well. They know the legend behind them, don’t they? The first was set at the IAAF World Championships during its 2009 edition in Berlin. Credit goes to Usain Bolt, the Jamaican legend. Under the August sky in the German metropolis, he clocked that time in the men’s 100m final. Since then, no one has touched this feat. However, shaving a few fractions off his previous record in the 100m wasn’t enough to satisfy Bolt’s fire—he wasn’t finished yet.

A few days later, Bolt returned to the same track to compete in the men’s 200m final. Once again, he shaved 0.11 seconds off his previous world record, setting a new one at 19.19 seconds—a record that still stands. Later, he displayed unprecedented success at both the Olympic and World Championship levels, winning titles with ease. But there was a price he paid for these accomplishments, beyond his grueling training regime. What was it? Let’s explore.

Usain Bolt speaks on the dark side that came chasing his achievements

In his 13-year professional career, Usain Bolt grabbed 29 global laurels. Add his multiple world records, and the Jamaican’s resume exemplifies what it means to be the best in his field. Along with fame, he enjoyed the thrill of immense popularity among his fans. This fandom often motivated him to push his limits and elevate his performance. But did it remain the same throughout those 13 years? No, it didn’t. According to the former Olympian, he experienced both sides of boundless fan devotion. Despite that, he made an effort to endure those circumstances during his period and had some success in the endeavor. In a podcast with Jake Humphrey and Damian Hughes, Usain shared a few more things on this. He said, “I think I kind of learned this [the process of coping with the fandom] on my own, I think because I started very young and Jamaican fans are very demanding.” But how did Jamaican fans teach him how to prepare for the demands of fans? 

The 38-year-old athlete had his answer ready under his sleeve. Per him, throughout the years, the Jamaican fans have been remaining demanding. They prefer to keep the local athletes on their toes. And Bolt had to face the same fate. He had his flowers from his countrymen after each of his successes on the track. But he had to hear “boos” from the same fans after his losses. Furthermore, his movement in public spaces ended up being limited because of fans chasing him every time. Those contrasting reactions were enough to break a young athlete’s confidence. But he couldn’t let those things happen. Therefore, to avoid the matter, Bolt had a trick. 

In the podcast, Usain revealed the trick by claiming, “I figured out that I had to do this for myself first.” Early in his career, Bolt focused on representing his country first, striving to win races for Jamaica at global championships. Later, however, his focus shifted to personal achievements, with his pursuit of victory becoming more self-driven. This change in perspective presented challenges for Bolt. But did his immense fandom become a burden for the eight-time Olympic champion? Not exactly.

The last dance of the legend saw him breaking down in front of his fans 

After years at the top, Usain Bolt has learned how to handle his fans’ expectations. He’s become accustomed to this aspect of his life. Yet, there was one moment when a packed stadium moved him to tears: his final race, the 2017 ‘Salute a Legend’ event in Kingston.

Before the race, Bolt had already announced his retirement from professional competition. However, his fitness wasn’t fully aligned with his peak form, as he was dealing with some hamstring issues. Nonetheless, he decided to go ahead with the race. His decision drew notable figures, including then-Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness and IAAF (now World Athletics) Chairman Sebastian Coe, to the National Stadium to watch him run one last time. After all, they were among Bolt’s many fans.

However, Bolt took 10.03 seconds to wrap up his final 100m race. Meanwhile, the fans danced and sang in the stands, honoring him. That behavior touched him deeply. In the post-race ceremony, Bolt couldn’t keep his eyes unbothered by tears. With a heavy voice, he said, “Just the atmosphere and the people, the support they came out and gave me, it was really nerve-racking. I never expected this, I knew it was going to be big, the stadium was ram-packed so thank you guys for coming out and supporting me.” That dropped the curtain over his illustrious career with a fitting ovation. Did Usain Bolt use any tricks to withstand the emotions that day? What do you think?