James chatting with Usain
If there is one interview you really do not want to be late for it is with the man universally known as ‘the fastest human that has ever lived’, or for those not so hot on cryptic clues, the sporting phenomenon that is Usain Bolt…of lightening (as his publicist's business card quite rightly calls him).
As I wandered down London’s busy Oxford Street, I made a conscious effort to check my watch every few minutes, or so, to make sure I wasn’t ‘running’ late - if you’ll forgive the pun - as I thought, ‘surely the man who has already shattered numerous world records for not only being fast but very fast, can’t ever be late for anything’.
But to my surprise, my illusion of the affable athlete was wrong, as for probably the first time in his professional career Usain was behind schedule.
Lounging on what can only be described as an uncomfortable looking red leathery sofa, Jamaican born Bolt was finishing one of the many interviews he would have to endure throughout the relentless publicity run for his autobiography: Usain Bolt: 9.58.
Although Usain was clearly busy, a raised thumb, pointed in my direction, acknowledged my arrival in the room and was his thoughtful way of saying hello, while he was tied up elsewhere. A nice touch for someone who could quite easily have an over inflated ego.
As I watched the remaining few minutes of the interview, I was pleased to see Usain looking like he always does…calm and collected.
Once the interview was over the world beating runner, who stands at an impressive 6’ 5”, slowly sauntered over to introduce himself. “Hi, I’m Usain Bolt”, he said.
As we stood looking out over a view that showcased the whole of London, Usain began to help himself to some of the fabulously extravagant and, might I add, tasty looking food that had been laid out for him.
Given the impressive view, Bolt was quick to ask, in that deep, soft, slow tone of his: “Is that the Tower of London?”
“I think it’s the Houses of Parliament”, I replied.
“Oh”, he said. “I would like to go there. Can I go there?”, he asked his manager, and best friend of twenty years. “Sure, we’ll arrange it for next time”, he assured Usain.
His relaxed attitude towards life is quite amazing and something that has always fascinated me about this extraordinary twenty-four year old.
“I didn’t know I would achieve so much in my career so far. I really wanted to be Olympic champion over 200m, I never knew I would be Olympic champion over 100m and a world record holder too.
“You definitely dream of these things, but I never thought I would have gotten this far at least and it’s a dream come true, so I got to just keep working hard and keep focused.”
While intensity is etched on the faces of his rivals during the build up of a do-or-die event, Bolt nonchalantly smiles, dances and even has time to mess about for the television cameras capturing the action. But why shouldn’t he be relaxed. Bolt is the fastest man ever – at both 100-hundred meters and 200-hundred meters.
“That’s just me, that’s my personality and that’s who I am”, Usain said.
“For me I don’t I get nervous because if I’m really prepared there’s no need to be nervous. I have already done the work to prepare for this situation. If you think about the race too much you start getting nervous and that’s not good to run. If you get nervous then you start making mistakes. If you try to focus too much then you over think things and you make mistakes, and I don’t want to make a mistake, so I try to be relaxed.”
He adds: “When I’m at the start line I try to think about random stuff. What am I going to do later, to just take my mind off the race.
“Then when they say on your marks, I re-focus. It gives me less time to stress out or to think too much.”
If you lined up a hundred people and asked them who the best basketball player in the world is, the best footballer, or the best cricketer, it is unlikely they would give the same answer. But ask any one ‘Who is the best sprinter in the world?’, there is only one answer - Usain Bolt. Why? Because that is what it says on the clock. There can be no dispute or argument.
Understandably, he doesn’t get tired of being reminded of his title or his incredible achievements.
“Being the fastest man in the world is a wonderful thing. It’s a wonderful title. For me, it’s just wonderful to know that I’m faster than everybody in the world.”
As someone who wasn’t blessed with any fast-twitch fibres, I was curious to know what it feels like to run at that speed.
“It’s extreme but running at that speed you can’t really tell. It feels normal to be because I’m used to running fast all the time.”
But as well as being blessed with natural talent, Usain has worked incredibly hard to get to where he is.
“It’s all about training. When I train hard, and I know I’m ready it’s easier for me to relax and not stress because I know I’ve put in all the work I need to. If I don’t win, I know that I just need to work harder.
“At school, I was always the fastest and if I wasn’t the fastest on day one I would always get there because I was very competitive and I always wanted to be the best. I was always running until I was the best. I was always competitive, so I always ended up being the fastest in school.”
Usain told me he gets his competitive edge from his parents - and understandably, they're very proud of his incredible achievements.
“My parents are very competitive when it comes to sports so I think I got it from them, and I have the drive to do my best at all times. They’re definitely proud of me.
“My teachers in high school saw the talent and they told me to keep working on it. My parents supported me 100% through everything. Everybody gave me support because they knew I could do it. And they kept on pushing me even when I got injured and stuff.”
So, as someone regarded as the best sprinter in the world, I was interested to know what he thinks makes him such a great runner?
“I just think I’m blessed with a lot of talent and I was just blessed to bring joy to the world. I think when you have talent people say you have a destiny. I guess this is just my destiny- to go out and make the world happy and run as fast as I can.”
When he talks about his childhood, he does so as if it were only yesterday. It’s a reminder of how young he still is. “Growing up as a child I was full of energy. I loved sports. As soon as I left school for the day I was out playing football, cricket or anything. When I was young I loved to climb trees, I loved to ride bikes, go to the river- just being a boy, getting into trouble.
“I couldn't live anywhere but Jamaica.”
So what rocket fuel does the fastest man in the world consume?
“It's good to get in the habit of a proper diet but I eat anything I feel like. At the moment I eat junk food.”
Although Bolt is renowned for his record within track and field, cricket was his first love. He grew up when the West Indies were still a force in the international game, and he wanted to be the new Courtney Walsh or Curtly Ambrose. He was gifted, too, opening the batting and bowling for his local side. “I’m an all rounder- definitely good at both”, he explained.
So why did Usain - a talented cricketer - not go with his heart? “It was literally just my teacher saying ‘try track and field’.
Although Bolt is renowned for his record within track and field, cricket was his first love. He grew up when the West Indies were still a force in the international game, and he wanted to be the new Courtney Walsh or Curtly Ambrose. He was gifted, too, opening the batting and bowling for his local side. “I’m an all rounder- definitely good at both”, he explained.
So why did Usain - a talented cricketer - not go with his heart? “It was literally just my teacher saying ‘try track and field’.
“Really I’m a cricketer and I really love playing cricket. That’s what I grew up on- my father loves cricket and I was very good at playing so I didn’t think about playing about changing because that’s what I wanted to do. But when my teacher said try it, I tried it and started winning, so it was fun and I just continued.”
Usain, who comes across as a very likeable individual, wears the mantle of role model with grace. Despite coming from a poor Jamaican background, where his first races were on a track that had a two-foot dip towards the finish, he explains that hard work and discipline can overcome almost anything. “Anything’s possible for me. That’s one of the things I live by”, he said inspiringly. “I think it’s very important to have something that you want to strive for. If you want to be the best at anything you do, you have got to really work at it and push yourself to the limit.”
One of the perks of being Usain Bolt is that sporting stars love to meet him as much as he likes to meet them. “I do get star struck sometimes. I’m big on football so when I met Cristiano Ronaldo, Rooney and all these guys it’s an honour.”
So, what do all these sporting superstars do when they get together I wondered? “We just try and hang out” he said. “I also get their autographs! But I have some of these guys on my BB (BlackBerry) so we talk and whenever we get a chance we meet up.”
As we near the end of the interview, I ask about his ambitions. Ultimately, he says, to my surprise, he would love to make a go of playing football professionally. He’s being deadly serious: “I definitely want to try football. I think I’ll be a good soccer player because I watch these guys and most of them just use speed and I think I’m good at doing that! (laughs). I’ve messed around with Cristiano (Ronaldo) a little bit but I play football every Sunday, with all my friends in Jamaica, when I get the chance, so I’m ready to play.”
But before that, Bolt says, there is so much more he has to achieve on the track. “My main ambition is to become a legend in the sport. I want to be remembered as one of the greatest athletes ever to live.”
As I made my way out of the room, I asked Usain about breaking world records. He explained rather casually: “I wasn’t even giving my all when I broke them.” To which we both chuckled.
Usain Bolt: 9.58 is published by HarperSport at £20.00
Usain Bolt: 9.58 is published by HarperSport at £20.00
