Usain Bolt Timeline

(2002 - 2017)

Usain Bolt, born on August 21, 1986, in Sherwood Content, Jamaica, is widely regarded as the greatest sprinter of all time. Known as 'Lightning Bolt,' he dominated track and field for over a decade, setting world records in the 100 meters (9.58 seconds) and 200 meters (19.19 seconds) that still stand today. His charismatic personality and unprecedented achievements made him a global icon of athletics. More Less

Go to: Timeline | Event List | Key Facts | Directory

Early Life and Rise

Usain Bolt is born in Sherwood Content, Jamaica

Aug 21, 1986

Usain St. Leo Bolt was born in the small rural town of Sherwood Content in Trelawny Parish, Jamaica. He grew up with his parents Wellesley and Jennifer Bolt and showed athletic talent from a young age, particularly excelling at cricket and football before turning to track and field.

Image source: Usain Bolt

Wins high school sprint titles for William Knibb Memorial High School

Jan 1, 2001

As a student at William Knibb Memorial High School, Bolt began dominating Jamaican schoolboy sprint competitions. Coaches noticed his exceptional speed despite his lanky frame, and he started training seriously under coach Pablo McNeil.

Wins 200m gold at World Junior Championships

Jul 18, 2002

At just 15 years old, Bolt won the 200 meters at the World Junior Championships in Kingston, Jamaica, becoming the youngest-ever world junior champion in that event. The home crowd celebrated him as Jamaica's newest track sensation.

Image source: 2002 World Junior Championships in Athletics

Turns professional and signs with Puma

Jan 1, 2003

Bolt turned professional in 2003 and signed a sponsorship deal with sportswear company Puma, beginning a long partnership that would last throughout his career. He continued to break junior records while adjusting to international competition.

Becomes first junior to run sub-20 seconds in 200m

Mar 31, 2004

With his 19.93-second run, Bolt became the first junior athlete ever to break the 20-second barrier in the 200 meters, signaling his extraordinary potential on the world stage.

Sets world junior record in 200m at CARIFTA Games

Apr 1, 2004

Bolt ran 19.93 seconds in the 200 meters at the 2004 CARIFTA Games in Bermuda, breaking Roy Martin's 20-year-old world junior record. Later that year he competed at the Athens Olympics but was eliminated in the first round due to injury.

Competes at World Championships in Osaka

Aug 25, 2007 - Sep 2, 2007

Bolt won silver medals in both the 200 meters and the 4x100 meter relay at the World Championships in Osaka, Japan. These performances established him as one of the top sprinters in the world and set the stage for his move to the 100 meters.

Image source: 2007 World Championships in Athletics

Records and Legacy

Breaks 100m world record in New York City

May 31, 2008

In just his fifth competitive 100-meter race, Bolt ran 9.72 seconds at the Reebok Grand Prix in New York City, breaking Asafa Powell's world record. It was an early sign of the historic season to come.

Image source: Athletics at the 2008 Summer Olympics – Men's 100 metres

Breaks own 100m world record in Berlin

Aug 16, 2009

At the World Championships in Berlin, Bolt ran an astonishing 9.58 seconds in the 100 meters, lowering his own world record by 0.11 seconds. The mark remains the world record today and is considered one of the greatest performances in athletics history.

Sets 200m world record of 19.19 seconds in Berlin

Aug 20, 2009

One week after his 100-meter record, Bolt shattered his own 200-meter world record with a time of 19.19 seconds in Berlin. Both of these records still stand as of today, cementing his dominance over the sprint events.

Image source: 2009 World Championships in Athletics – Men's 100 metres

Stripped of 2008 relay gold after teammate's doping violation

Jan 25, 2017

The IOC stripped Jamaica of its 2008 Olympic 4x100 meter relay gold medal after Nesta Carter's sample tested positive for methylhexaneamine upon reanalysis. Bolt's individual golds were unaffected, leaving him with eight Olympic gold medals.

Olympic Glory

Wins Olympic 100m gold with world record in Beijing

Aug 16, 2008

Bolt won the Olympic 100 meters in Beijing in a world-record time of 9.69 seconds, famously celebrating before the finish line with his arms outstretched. The performance stunned the sporting world and made him a global superstar overnight.

Wins Olympic 200m gold with world record in Beijing

Aug 20, 2008

Six days after his 100-meter triumph, Bolt won the 200 meters in 19.30 seconds, breaking Michael Johnson's long-standing world record of 19.32 seconds set at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.

Image source: Athletics at the 2008 Summer Olympics – Men's 200 metres

Wins third Beijing gold in 4x100m relay

Aug 22, 2008

Bolt anchored Jamaica to victory in the 4x100 meter relay, completing an unprecedented triple gold medal haul in Beijing. The team's world-record time was later rescinded in 2017 when teammate Nesta Carter tested positive for a banned substance.

Defends Olympic 100m title in London

Aug 5, 2012

Bolt won the 100 meters at the London Olympics in 9.63 seconds, an Olympic record, defeating rival Yohan Blake. He became the first man to successfully defend the Olympic 100-meter title since Carl Lewis.

Image source: Athletics at the 2012 Summer Olympics – Men's 100 metres

Defends Olympic 200m title in London

Aug 9, 2012

Four days later, Bolt won the 200 meters in 19.32 seconds, becoming the first man to win both sprint doubles at consecutive Olympic Games. Jamaica swept the podium with Blake taking silver and Warren Weir bronze.

Image source: Athletics at the 2012 Summer Olympics – Men's 200 metres

Wins relay gold as Jamaica sets world record in London

Aug 11, 2012

Bolt anchored Jamaica to a world-record time of 36.84 seconds in the 4x100 meter relay, completing his second consecutive Olympic triple. This record still stands today.

Wins third consecutive Olympic 100m gold in Rio

Aug 14, 2016

Bolt won the 100 meters at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics in 9.81 seconds, becoming the first athlete in history to win three consecutive Olympic titles in the event, completing the 'triple-triple' quest.

Image source: Athletics at the 2016 Summer Olympics – Men's 100 metres

Wins third consecutive Olympic 200m gold in Rio

Aug 18, 2016

Bolt captured the 200 meters in Rio in 19.78 seconds, again defeating Canada's Andre De Grasse. With eight individual Olympic gold medals, he solidified his status as the greatest sprinter of all time.

Image source: Athletics at the 2016 Summer Olympics – Men's 200 metres

Completes 'Triple-Triple' with Rio relay gold

Aug 19, 2016

By anchoring Jamaica to relay gold in Rio, Bolt completed the 'Triple-Triple': gold in the 100 meters, 200 meters, and 4x100 meter relay at three consecutive Olympic Games (2008, 2012, 2016). One of the nine medals was later affected by a teammate's doping violation.

Image source: Athletics at the 2016 Summer Olympics – Men's 4 × 100 metres relay

World Championships

Completes double at 2009 World Championships

Aug 15, 2009 - Aug 23, 2009

Bolt capped off the Berlin World Championships by anchoring Jamaica to relay gold, completing a sweep of three gold medals alongside his two individual world records. It was widely regarded as the greatest single championship performance ever.

Image source: 2009 World Championships in Athletics

Wins 100m and 200m at 2011 World Championships

Aug 28, 2011 - Sep 4, 2011

After being disqualified for a false start in the 100-meter final in Daegu, South Korea, Bolt rebounded to win gold in the 200 meters and anchor Jamaica to a world-record 4x100 meter relay victory.

Image source: 2011 World Championships in Athletics

Wins sprint double at Moscow World Championships

Aug 10, 2013 - Aug 18, 2013

Despite a hamstring injury during the season, Bolt won gold in the 100 meters, 200 meters, and 4x100 meter relay at the World Championships in Moscow, Russia, extending his reign over global sprinting.

Image source: 2013 World Championships in Athletics

Sweeps golds at Beijing World Championships

Aug 22, 2015 - Aug 30, 2015

Returning to the Bird's Nest stadium where he first made history, Bolt won gold in the 100 meters, 200 meters, and 4x100 meter relay at the 2015 World Championships in Beijing, narrowly edging Justin Gatlin in both sprints.

Image source: 2015 World Championships in Athletics

Wins final World Championship medals in London

Aug 4, 2017 - Aug 13, 2017

In his final individual races, Bolt took bronze in the 100 meters behind Justin Gatlin and Christian Coleman, then pulled up injured in the relay final as Jamaica finished fourth. The championships marked the emotional end of his competitive career.

Image source: 2017 World Championships in Athletics

Legacy

Runs final race at London Stadium

Aug 12, 2017

Bolt's career ended heartbreakingly when he suffered a hamstring cramp in his final race, the 4x100 meter relay final, and could not finish. Fans around the world paid tribute to the end of an unparalleled era in sprinting.

Retires from professional athletics

Aug 14, 2017

Bolt officially retired from track and field after the 2017 World Championships, closing a career that included eight Olympic gold medals and eleven World Championship titles. His farewell celebrations drew tributes from athletes and fans worldwide.

Tries out with Australian football club Central Coast Mariners

Aug 21, 2018 - Nov 2, 2018

Pursuing his dream of becoming a professional footballer, Bolt trained and played trial matches with the Central Coast Mariners in Australia's A-League. He scored two goals in a friendly match but ultimately did not secure a professional contract.

Image source: Central Coast Mariners FC

Launches electric mobility company Bolt Mobility

Jan 1, 2019

Bolt co-founded Bolt Mobility, an electric scooter and micromobility company based in the United States, extending his personal brand into business ventures after retirement from athletics.

Image source: Bolt (company)

Welcomes daughter Olympia Lightning Bolt

May 17, 2020

Bolt and his partner Kasi Bennett welcomed their first child, daughter Olympia Lightning Bolt. The couple later had twin sons, Thunder and Saint Leo, born in June 2021, expanding Bolt's family life after retirement.

Key Facts

Usain Bolt won eight Olympic gold medals across three consecutive Olympic Games: Beijing 2008, London 2012, and Rio 2016.
He holds the current world records in both the 100 meters (9.58 seconds, set in Berlin 2009) and the 200 meters (19.19 seconds, also set in Berlin 2009).
Bolt is the only sprinter to win Olympic gold in the 100m and 200m at three consecutive Olympics, earning him the nickname 'Lightning Bolt.'
He first gained international attention as a teenager by winning the 200m at the 2002 World Junior Championships in Kingston, Jamaica, at just 15 years old.
Bolt retired from professional athletics after the 2017 World Championships in London, where he won bronze in the 100m and suffered a hamstring injury in his final relay race.

Source

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