“Scrap It”: Despite Usain Bolt’s Support, the Legend’s $250,000 Dollar Statue Receives Backlash From the Fans

Track and field legend Usain Bolt was honored by the Florida government. After a glorious record-setting career with eight Olympic medals, last week the Jamaican-born sprinter added a new honorary achievement to his list. As, Bolt was honored with a bronze statue in Miramar City, Florida.

The athlete also shared a picture of him alongside his new shiny statue on social media. The statue, however, did not sit well with Bolt enthusiasts, as they believe it falls short of both the sprinter’s greatness and appearance. Many fans left disapproving comments under the athlete’s Instagram post.

Lightning Bolt poses with his new honorary statue

On July 16,  Usain Bolt posted a picture on Instagram captioned Just a kid from the country with his statue in Florida.” In the picture, Bolt is seen copying the statue sculpted in his iconic dance pose of aiming at the sky after his majestic win at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The statue was built by Jamaican artist and sculptor Basil Watson and also had one of Bolt’s famous quotes, “Anything is Possible. Don’t think limits” added at the end of it. The unveiling of the honorary tribute was held at the Ansin Sports Complex in Miramar City on July 14.

The City of Miramar, Florida, is the largest Jamaican population-holding city outside the island itself and has honored many important black entities, including Martin Luther King Jr. and now Usain Bolt. This new bronze sculpture will be the second honorary carving dedicated to the sprinter by his native country, Jamaica. However, this time the honor received criticism from fans, who claim the athlete’s statue does not look like the sprinter at all. Many fans left critical comments under the athlete’s Instagram post.

Usain Bolt’s statue faces criticism from Fans

The new bronze statue built in Miramar cost the authorities over $250,000. However, despite the money poured in and the sprinter’s obvious enthusiasm towards the honor, many fans don’t think the statue matches up to the sprinter’s greatness or his looks. Hundreds of fans exhibited their disapproval under the athlete’s Instagram post, as one fan commented, “Sorry, I don’t like that image of him, and it looks like too old of a person.”

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While one fan used a Jamaican phrase to show his disapproval “The sculptor needs “tested” glasses, as we Jamaicans would say.” One fan claimed that the statue makes Bolt look old and weak, as she stated “That statue does no justice to Usain. It looks old and weak.” Moreover, one fan asks the authorities to scrap the bronze statue and redo it, saying, “That looks terrible. Looks nothing like America. Scrap it and do it properly.”

However, apart from its looks Bolt’s statue represents a lot. According to the Marimar authorities, this statue is a symbol of unity, and diversity and celebrates millions of immigrant populations of Jamaica who had to leave their homes.

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