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The king of sprinting, Usain Bolt, first earned the title of a legend in 2008. Displaying his heroics on the global stage, he stunned the world with his insane 9.69 seconds finish in the 100m race at the Beijing Olympics.

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Undeniably, Bolt has incredible and unbeatable skills; however, he is also a super lucky man. The Jamaican sprinter recently revealed how a race that could’ve caused his career’s worst injury turned out to be the most significant one for other reasons.

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Usain Bolt revealed his shoelace was untied during the race

The 8-time Olympic gold medalist made his mega-quadrennial games debut in 2004. However, the 6’5 tall man’s capabilities came into the spotlight in 2008 at the Beijing Olympics.

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Bolt clocked the then world record and Olympic record-breaking time of 9.69 seconds that year. Moreover, he recently revealed that he did it with his shoelaces untied. During the Expo 2020 Dubai, Bolt made the shocking revelation of how his career could’ve gone sideways, had he fallen victim to an injury then.

Bolt said,??People started talking about it and I started watching the videos, people saying my shoe was untied and I didn?t even notice. It could have gone horribly wrong.?

Thankfully, he did not fall, and the world witnessed history being made. However, Bolt also revealed that he only wanted to win the race, after missing out on the podium in 2004 because of a hamstring injury. ?For me, it was never about the world record. It was about winning. My main aim was to win,” he said.?

2008 was the hardest training year of his career

When the Jamaican legend won the 2008 Olympics race, he was seen beating his chest like a conqueror. According to Bolt, it was the joy of winning after going through the most intense training of his career.

Bolt said, ?That is why I beat my chest when I crossed the line. It was just pure joy. I think ?08 was the hardest I have ever trained in my whole career. I worked so hard because I wanted it so bad. It was just pure joy and it just came out. I had done it, and it was a moment I will never forget.?

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Notably, in 2009, Bolt recorded the world’s fastest time again in 100m and 200m races, a feat no one has surpassed to date. Interestingly, even during a major car crash, Bolt survived with few to no injuries. Indeed, the world’s fastest man is a very lucky man as well. And thanks to his luck, he continues to say healthy, fit, and inspire the world.

Read More: Olympic Legend Usain Bolt to Make a Comeback to Track and Field for a Noble Cause

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Shreya Verma

609 Articles

Shreya Verma is a US Sports Content Strategist at EssentiallySports, with a focus on Olympic sports and athlete storytelling, covering beats like tennis, gymnastics, basketball, track and field, wrestling, and more. A qualified National Level air pistol shooter, she brings the unique perspective of both an athlete and a journalist to her work. Over the past four years at EssentiallySports, she has covered some of the biggest sporting stages, from managing the Olympic Sports desk during the Winter Olympics 2022 to spearheading the US Open 2025 coverage and content strategy. In 2024, she was on the ground in Paris for the Summer Olympics, where she interviewed legends and rising stars, including Carl Lewis, Laurie Hernandez, Fred Kerley, Noah Lyles, Quincy Hall, and Grant Holloway, who memorably offered her the chance to try on his gold medal. She also connected with icons and fan favorites such as Tom Brady, Katie Ledecky, Tara Davis & Hunter Woodhall, Andy Murray, Ilona Maher, Kevon Williams, Jonathan Owens, and Neeraj Chopra, while capturing emotional family perspectives from Nellie Biles, Jordan Chiles’ mother, Suni Lee’s mother, and Katie Ledecky’s brother, Michael. Her journalism is marked by authenticity, access, and a deep passion for highlighting perseverance and human connection in sports. Inspired by Olympic champions like Allyson Felix and Vincent Hancock, Shreya continues to carve her path as a storyteller.

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