I Never Thought Of Breaking World Records - Bolt

Last week, Usain Bolt celebrated his 28th birthday, and also the
five-year anniversary of the two world records he set at the 2009 IAAF
World Championships in Berlin. For more than three decades, no 100m
world record has stood for such a period, and no one other than Bolt
has moved the world record forward by more than a tenth of a second
since the measurement of time in second hundredths was
introduced.News24finds out what the world's fastest man thinks about
his accomplishments, his legacy and what else he has broken besides
records

Your 100m record has now stood for five years. It's been more than
three decades since the 100m World Record was unbroken for that
period. Why do you think your record from Berlin has stood for so
long?

I don't know really. For me I've struggled with injuries over the past
five years so it's been hard to be in the condition that I was in
Berlin to really challenge that record. In London I felt good, and I
wasn't far away but everything has to be in your favour - your
condition, the weather, the track, and then if you execute your race
perfectly from the start through the transition and then driving to
the line - then you have a chance.

In Berlin, you moved the World Record forward by more than a tenth of
a second, no-one has done that since the measurement of time in
hundredths of a second was introduced more than fifty years ago. Is
that a key part of your legacy?

Yes, I think it is definitely part of it. But gold medals are what
I've always counted as being the main aspect of my legacy, winning
three gold medals again in London and defending those 100m, 200m and
the 4x100m titles was the moment. I'm looking ahead to Rio and I
really want to be in a position to win those medals again. If I did, I
think people would talk about that for a long time.

Thinking back to that 100m final in Berlin, what do you remember of the night?

I remember the night well, the atmosphere in the stadium, walking out
there and hearing the people. The crowd was brilliant. I was in really
good shape. I felt good and had a confidence that I was going to do
it. The track was so quick as well, I liked the blue track. I remember
that I started really well that night, and ran really hard through the
line. It was a great night. I was going there to prove myself to the
world again, that I was the best in my discipline.

And the 200m final four days later?

It was a similar experience. I ran conservatively through the heats
and so had good energy for the final, which I knew I was going to
need. Coming off the bend I knew I was running quickly and I was just
focused on pumping my arms well and opening up my legs. I wanted to
win, but win well more than run a quick time - but when I saw 19.19 on
the clock after I finished I was really happy.

Looking back further still, when did you first believe you could break
a World Record?

I can't really remember, because it wasn't something I thought about.
I was always a 200m runner, that was my thing but my coach wanted me
to try the 100m which I did and I liked it, and learned I was quick.
But World Records were never something I thought about.

How did things change for you after New York?

People started paying more attention to me. I think that was the
moment I really arrived in track and field. It was an Olympic year so
there was a real spotlight on the sport to see what kind of form
athletes were in and so there was some good interest in me. But
Beijing was where it all started.

So the Legend of Usain Bolt was really born in Beijing. Had you ever
considered that you could return to Jamaica with three gold medals?

I dreamed about it, but never thought it would actually happen.

Next year the World Championships are in that stadium and I'm really
looking forward to going back to where it all began.

You were the first sprinter since Don Quarrie to hold both 100m and
200m world records simultaneously. How much did you know about him
growing up, did he inspire you?

Yes, everybody knew about Don, as a young kid he was a hero of mine.
He did great things to raise the profile of Jamaica as a nation in
track and field and what he did in the 100m and 200m was phenomenal.
So to be mentioned alongside him is a real honour for me.

Before the Olympics in London you said you wanted to become a legend
and win the gold medals again, which you proved to the world. If you
were to win more gold medals in Rio, what would that make you?

I think I would still be a legend. It's hard to imagine anyone would
do that again, so I'm in a privileged position to be going for it.
That would keep people talking about me for years to come.