Usain Bolt Defeated a Career-Threatening Medical Condition to Become the World?s Fastest Man

Usain Bolt is undeniably the greatest sprinter the world has ever seen. He is most famously known for completing the 100m in 9.58s at the 2009 IAAF World Championships. It earned him the title of the fastest man alive.

However, the world?s fastest sprinter had a medical condition that also put him at a disadvantage when competing against other world-class athletes. But he did not let this condition get the better of him and transcended above it to become a champion.

How did Usain Bolt manage his condition?

But it does not mean that his condition is easy-going on the athlete. Bolt had to struggle a lot, owing to the immobilizing nature of his condition since his early days. However, the athlete continued to chase his dream and conquered it to win numerous accolades during his sprinting career.

The medical term of his condition is called scoliosis, and he has been dealing with it since his childhood. It causes the spine to curve to one side, leading to an ‘S’ shape. People with this condition can suffer from severe backaches throughout their lives.

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However, Bolt had dreams as a child, and he wanted to pursue them the best he could. He did not let a medical condition hold him back. As such, he had to work out a way to manage it as best as he could.

During an interview last year, the sprinter spoke about the condition that has followed him throughout his life.

Speaking about the challenges he has faced due to this condition, Bolt said, ?When I was younger it wasn’t really a problem. But you grow and it gets worse.?

However, the 100m champion has figured out a way to keep this condition in check.

Reflecting on the means to manage it, the Lightning Bolt added, ?My spine’s really curved bad [makes “S” shape with finger]. But if I keep my core and back strong, the scoliosis doesn’t really bother me.?

Since he figured out a way to keep it under control, the later years of his career were comparatively facile. However, that was not the case when he started out as an athlete.

His struggle with scoliosis during the start of his career

When he was in a nascent stage in his career, Bolt had a hard time managing his scoliosis as they struggled to get a grasp on a situation that they did not understand completely.

Looking back, Usain said, ?So I don’t have to worry about it as long as I work hard. The early part of my career, when we didn’t really know much about it, it hampered me because I got injured every year.?

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Moreover, the condition has had physical effects on the athlete that he has explored in detail in his autobiography. The condition left him with a shorter right leg. It accounts for his left leg remaining on the ground 14 percent longer than his right while competing. Furthermore, Bolt maintains that he has not had corrective surgeries to manage his scoliosis.