Jamaica has produced a number of Olympic athletes and they have won 88 Olympic medals. Most of the medals won by Jamaican athletes have been in track and field events primarily running. No one will ever forget the bobsled team that came from Jamaica that had never seen snow before, but by far the most famous Olympian from this small Caribbean island is Usain Bolt. 

Usain was born in 1986. Growing up Usain lived in a small village named Sherwood Content where very few people owned or even drove a car. There were no street lights and not many people had running water. Usain was called hyperactive when he was small. He was always outside playing sports and running. He also liked to play practical jokes on people. His coaches realized how fast Usain was and convinced him to concentrate on running. In 2002 when Usain Bolt was only 16 years old he became the world junior champion sprinter.

The Olympic Games in Beijing China in 2008 is when Usain Bolt became a star. People  around the world would start to recognize him as the World’s Fastest Man. He participated in three events, the 100 and 200 meter sprints and the 4x100 meter relay. He not only took home gold medals but he broke three world records and he was only 22 years old. During the China Olympics Usain also introduced the world to his famous pose. After that every time he won he would do his signature “lightning bolt”. Some of Usain’s friends say that the lightning bolt is actually a dance move he learned at the dance clubs.

Less than a year after the Beijing games Usain beat his own world record in the 100 meter sprint. That world record time was 9.58 seconds. No one has ever broken that record even though many have tried. Even Usain was never able to break that record. Scientists measured Usain’s speed at a race in 2011 using a laser. He ran that race with a top speed of more than 27 miles per hour. His next Olympic games were in London in 2012 and in 2017 he retired. 

With prize money and endorsements Usain Bolt earned close to 23 million dollars. Usain said, “Believe in yourself, and never give up on your dreams.” He won 8 gold medals. Who knows, you could be the next record breaking Olympian if you follow his advice.