Bolt not running out of wow factor despite last defeat

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Usain Bolt failed to fulfill his long-cherished wish to have a golden goodbye before he steps away from the running track and hangs up his running shoes.

Bolt, nicknamed “Lightning Bolt” thanks to his speed on the track, finished third in the men’s 100 meters race in 9.95 seconds at the IAAF World Championships in London on Saturday. Justin Gatlin won the gold in 9.92 seconds and Christian Coleman finished two-hundredths of a second slower for the silver.

Usain Bolt embraces Justin Gatlin after the men’s 100 meters race at the IAAF World Championships London 2017. /AFP Photo

Although failing to defend the field he has dominated for nine years, Bolt is still considered as the greatest sprinter in history.

The Jamaican superstar is halfway through his London journey and he has only one race on schedule, the men’s 4×100 meters relay slated for the next weekend.

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The 30-year-old has made it clear on different occasions that he will retire after London, although some believe he may be back for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.

The IAAF President, Sebastian Coe, has hailed Bolt as the greatest ever track athlete.

"If you have the same discussion around golf or tennis, everybody will have different views,” he once said.

The ‘lightning’ man who redefined human speed

This file photo taken on August 16, 2008 shows Usain Bolt celebrating after winning the men's 100m final at the "Bird's Nest" National Stadium at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. / AFP Photo

Bolt redefined the limits of human speed in 2009. His personal best of 9.58 seconds in the 100 meters race is the fastest record ever set by a human.

It has been reported that only 124 men have managed to finish a 100-meter sprint below 10 seconds as the run requires tremendous physical and psychological status. Bolt has broken this barrier nearly 50 times during his career.

He has dominated the sprints for almost a decade and is the only person to win both the 100 and 200 meters races at three Olympic Games.

Why is Bolt so fast?

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Bolt used to be considered too tall and too thin to be a good sprinter as the perfect height for men’s 100 meters race is between 1.80 and 1.85 meters. Bolt stands at 1.95 meters. Although height doesn’t bring Bolt the advantage of powering off the starting block, his long and efficient strides sure play in his favor. Bolt can cover 100 meters in about 40 or 41 strides, while others who are on top of their game need 43 or 44 strides.

Keeping a relaxed mind during competition is also a secret of Bolt’s success. The Jamaican said he never throws himself into the intense atmosphere until the starter gives the “ready” command.

Moreover, he often cannot wait to celebrate his win the moment he reaches the finish line. When his competitors spare no effort to chase after him, he still has the time to smile to spectators.

Photo via the Internet

Bolt makes running look effortless and funny, but that doesn’t mean he is not training hard. Besides running exercises, he also takes up strength and weight training to improve explosive effort, while his underwater training advances his balance ability and flexibility.

Usain Bolt during training. /Photo via the Internet

Usain Bolt during post-training massage. /Photo via the Internet

An eventful and emotional season

Before the London championships, Bolt only raced three times this season and finished the 100 meters race in less than 10 seconds just once.

He recorded 9.95 seconds at the Monaco Diamond League over two weeks ago. During the other two competitions – both in June – Bolt scored 10.03 seconds and 10.06 seconds.

Usain Bolt competes during the IAAF World Challenge Zlata Tretra (Golden Spike) athletics tournament in Ostrava, the Czech Republic, on June 28, 2017. /Getty Images

A back injury seems to have hindered Bolt’s progress. The shocking death of his close friend Germaine Mason, the Olympic silver medalist high jumper, in a road accident in April also weighed heavy on him. Bolt stopped training for three weeks after the tragedy.

Future footballer or a businessman?

As an avid fan of Manchester United, Bolt has many times expressed his hope of joining the club’s try-out training after his career on the track comes to a halt. According to his agent Ricky Simms, Bolt has been offered trials by a dozen of football clubs around the world.

The new life chapter for the sprinter could lead him to dabble into the fast-paced world of business. German sportswear firm Puma, which has sponsored Bolt since he was 15, is considering employing him as the head of its Caribbean business after his retirement.

Usain Bolt gestures during a press conference prior to Bolt's last World Championship, in London on August 1, 2017. / AFP Photo

However, whatever his next step might be, Bolt still intends to stay close to sports and inspire the world’s youth to get involved in athleticism – though definitely not as a coach.

"Maybe next season I'll be at the track a lot. I won't be a coach but I'll oversee and watch,” he previously declared.