“And That’s a Fact”: 8x Olympic Gold Medalist, Usain Bolt Once Walked a Fine Line Between Arrogance and Self-Belief

Usain Bolt has etched his name in history in a moment of glory that the world witnessed in absolute awe. He gained worldwide fame for his double sprint victory in world record timings at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. How would you perceive the world if you were the fastest man alive? The 36-year-old athlete from Jamaica holds the world record in 100 meters sprint, as well as 200 meters, and 4×100 meters relay.

Post his historic treble at the Rio Olympics, Usain Bolt spoke to The Guardian. In his 2016 interview, he talked about the limelight, the parties, fashion, and his future plans of settling down. One of the more interesting topics of discussion, however, was how Bolt defended his self-aggrandizement.

Usain Bolt and his effortless grandeur

It is no surprise that one’s self-confidence would skyrocket if one becomes the most loved sportsman in the world overnight. As we all know, the line between arrogance and self-belief is thin. The sprinter is so confident of his achievements that he swears by statements like “I told you all I was going to be number one, and I did just that” or simply, “I am a legend.”

To the athlete’s defense, there is a notion that Jamaican men are boastful. Comparatively, Bolt is rather restrained. Discussing his personality, he stated, “At the start of my career, I never bragged. Initially, I was like, ‘No, no.’ And I kept on saying no. Then, ‘All right, I’m getting there, I’m getting there.’ But now I’m comfortable saying it. If somebody said, ‘Who are you?’ then, ‘I am the best.’ And that’s a fact. You’re just telling somebody who you are. I feel that if you have done something, it’s not bragging.”

READ MORE: 8x Olympic Gold Medalist, Usain Bolt, Stopped an Ongoing Interview to Honor US National Anthem at the 2012 London Games

Not a person to waste energy

With a deep baritone to woo millions of maidens, he has all the qualities of a presentable Jamaican man. He dresses up casually but with perfection. Being a straightforward, no-nonsense individual, he expresses disinterest in wasting energy on meaningless work, like putting up an appearance. Furthermore, he explained, “I’m not really a fashion person. I just like to look good. Sometimes I go on the road in shorts and people look at me”–he adopts a horrified voice–“‘What are you wearing?’ I’m like, ‘I’m not going to dress up to just come get food.”

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Finally, the 6’5 tall athlete has been an 8x Olympic Gold Medalist and is colloquially called “Lightning Bolt”. Bolt retired from the tracks in 2017. He has also gone on to release a single titled “Living the Dream” with his childhood friend and manager Nugent ‘NJ’ Walker.