Usain Bolt lost his aura of invincibility in the ongoing World Athletics Championships when he finished third in the Men's 100m final. However, he still remains the most likeable and popular athlete of all time. This was evident when the newly crowned world champion Justin Gatlin of USA knelt down as a mark of tribute to Bolt.
The Jamaican's popularity can be gauged from the fact that the entire stadium gave him a standing ovation when he took the final lap of honour. The same crowd ignored the newly crowned champion Gatlin. It is also learnt that the medal ceremony of this event has been shifted because the athletic chiefs do not want to see a full stadium booing Gatlin and the American national anthem.
Bolt’s colourful, extrovert personality and his theatrical gestures on the track after winning an event in the Olympics or the World Championships brought an element of entertainment in the world of athletics. In the era of colour television and social media, Bolt is the first athlete to combine excellence on the track with entertainment. This is what made him special. His performances and victories transcended nationalistic boundaries and appealed to human nature.
People all over the world admire Bolt for his remarkable ability to be consistently successful in the 2008, 2012 and 2016 Olympics and the 2009, 2011, 2013 and 2015 World Championships.
Despite being the world’s most recognised athlete, he did not become a prima donna but instead remained a friendly and jovial individual who enjoyed parties and reggae music. What made him remarkable was that, despite being so successful, he remained an ordinary man. He was not excessively muscular or a laboratory product like Valery Borozov (1972 Olympics, 100m and 200m winner from USSR), but appeared to the world as a normal fun-loving individual.
During training, he had a special diet, but otherwise he indulged himself like millions all over the world, gobbling chicken nuggets, eating chocolates, ice creams, swaying to music at discotheques and attending concerts. He would discuss football, admired Manchester United and was friendly with many girls in Jamaica and Europe. He remained a likeable man and not a rich and glamorous superstar athlete.
In a world that is getting increasingly self obsessed, Bolt was like a throwback to a different era. He never used the media to belittle his opponents. He was always gracious in victory. Even after getting a Bronze medal in the 100m final at London, he did not show any attitude, but went over to embrace Gatlin. This made him special and made people of all nationalities admire him.
There were occasions when he was not the favourite before a major event as he would be recovering from injuries. Being so tall, his start was not perfect in many of the 100m finals. Yet, he never panicked and used his long strides and power to overcome his opponents at the 60 or 70 metre mark and then cruise to victory. To maintain such brilliance for a period of eight years in events (100m and 200m), in which the margin of error is minimal, makes Bolt arguably the greatest Olympian of all times.
I was a commentator at the 2012 London Olympics when Bolt won the 100m and 200m in grand style. In both these events, his compatriot Yohan Blake was the favourite, but there was no acrimony between them and they would be joking and chatting before each race. When he met the media after his victories, I asked him about his discussion with Blake. He smiled and said, “We chatted like all young men, about the beautiful girls in London.” He looked at my accreditation and said, “Like Indians, I enjoy cricket and we always talk about the great Michael Holding.”
These were probably ploys to avoid tension before an event, but it added to Bolt’s charisma and awesome reputation. He was the people’s champion.
