‘Anything is possible – don’t set yourself limits.’ In the words of Usain Bolt, the record-breaking athlete
Although he retired nine years ago, his 100-metre record remains unbroken. The world’s fastest man has lent his name to a watch featuring the colours of his native Jamaica.
In the world of athletics, no event attracts more attention than the 100-metre sprint final. Whether at the Olympics or the World Championships, it is always the most eagerly anticipated event, the one in which the fastest men on the planet take to the track. It usually keeps millions of people all over the world glued to their screens. This was particularly true between 2008 and 2016. The reason? Standing in the starting blocks was the Jamaican Usain Bolt: the greatest sprinter of all time. Throughout his career, he racked up unparalleled successes in the 100 metres, as well as in the 200 metres and the 4x100-metre relay. He broke record after record, winning gold medals and shattering times on the track. An athlete who has redefined the boundaries of athletics: nine years on from his retirement from racing, Bolt is now one of Hublot’s brand ambassadors, having collaborated with the brand to create the Big Bang Reloaded Usain Bolt model, a limited edition of 200 pieces.
What was your first thought when you woke up the day after you retired from racing? I was probably just happy not to have to get up and go to training. I don’t miss the aches and pains from intense training, but I do miss the competition and the thrill of racing in front of packed stadiums all over the world. Fortunately, I’m still very active and I’m always travelling: my life hasn’t changed that much.
What did you like most about that period? Everything revolved around competition. I lived for the big moments and usually performed at my best when the pressure was at its peak, such as at the Olympic Games or the World Championships.
Your first ever medal came with a second-place finish. Looking back on that moment, could you ever have imagined what would happen next? No. When I started out, I never thought I’d achieve such success. It proved that ‘anything is possible, don’t think limits’ (everything is possible, don’t set yourself limits, ed.): that’s my motto, which I still pass on to young people today.
Your 100-metre record of 9.58 seconds, set in Berlin in 2009, remains unbroken to this day: how does it feel to be the fastest man in the world? It’s brilliant. I’m also the fastest man ever, living or dead (he smiles, Ed.). When I think of how many people there are in the world, the fact that I’ve managed to run faster than all of them makes me very proud.
