Apart from his eight shining gold medals, Usain Bolt is also known for his iconic strike pose. Fans love enacting the trademark celebratory pose, especially when he’s around. However, Bolt has been doing the same pose since 2008, and he might not be as thrilled by it as he once was.

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Back in 2008, when Usain Bolt marked his place on the sprinting throne, his lightning strike pose turned into an iconic celebration. Notably, it was that year when Bolt had clinched his maiden Olympic gold medals in 100m and 200m races.

Usain does the striking pose for his fans

The Jamaican sprinting legend, Usain Bolt, broke the Olympic and world record in his second Olympic outing in Beijing, 2008. Bolt recorded a terrific time of 9.69 seconds to clinch the Olympic podium and set the then fastest record. As he marked his historic win, Bolt celebrated with his lighting strike pose for the first time then.

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Usain Bolt

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However, in a recent interview, Bolt revealed that after doing it for decades, he is overwhelmed by it now. He said, “Sometimes it gets a little bit, I wouldn’t say annoying. But I understand that I’ve done it to myself.”

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However, the world’s fastest man is always humble to his fans and loves to do it for them, instead of himself.

Bolt said, “People really enjoy it and it’s for the fans, you know. I mean, it’s a picture that they will treasure forever. So for me, I’m not always happy doing it, but I do it anyways because it’s for them and it makes them happy.”

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Usain Bolt loves to interact with his fans

Back in his Olympic days, Bolt was known for his?sweet gestures and his down-to-earth personality. From shaking hands with fans to appreciating the supporting staff on track, the Jamaican sprinter is recognized as one of the most humble Olympic stars.

Usain had retired in 2017, but he still uses his skills to give back to society. On Sunday, Bolt ran the charity race at the Dubai Expo 2020, and many lucky fans got to run and interact with him. Undoubtedly, they requested him to celebrate with his iconic pose. Notably, while he might not be a fan of the pose now, Usain did not hesitate to do it for his fans.

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Read More: Did Usain Bolt Purposely Lose a Race Out of Fear? Yohan Blake Reflects on Huge Career Victory

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Shreya Verma

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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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