Usain St Leo Bolt

Usain Bolt has captivated the sporting world for the second year in a row. The world is now swiftly running out of superlatives to describe the astonishing performances of this 23-year-old 'superhuman' whose achievements have earned him the Order of Jamaica (OJ).

Bolt, the youngest ever recipient of the country's fourth highest national honour, towers over his opponents not only in stature, but also with his outstanding displays on the track.

The Gleaner's 2008 Man of the Year dominated the Beijing Olympics last year with two unbelievable world records in the men's 100 and 200 metres and then helped the Jamaican quartet to a fantastic 37.10 seconds in the 4x100 metres. His performances were so amazing that many ardent track and field enthusiasts thought that, despite his showboating 20 metres from the line, his 9.69 seconds world record in the 100m would not be beaten anytime soon. His 200m mark, 19.30 seconds, erased the 12-year-old record (19.32) of American Michael Johnson and many expected that record to last for, at least, another 12 years.

How wrong they all were. In August, in Berlin, Germany, at the 12th IAAF World Championships in Athletics, Bolt took men's sprinting to levels previously unknown and possibly to a level which will not be attained by any other athlete, but himself, in the near future.

New records

To the amazement of all those who witnessed it and the millions who watched around the world Bolt chopped 0.11 seconds off both his 100m and 200m records to establish new marks of 9.58 seconds for 100 metres and 19.19 over 200 metres. In the process he left the rest of the field well behind. The silver-medal winner in the 100m, American Tyson Gay, clocked a national record, 9.71 seconds, but was still 13 hundredths of a second behind Bolt.

He was even more devastating in the 200m. Silver medallist, Alonso Edward of Panama was a distant second in 19.81 seconds.

Bolt has been fairly modest about his success, but there is no doubt, at least in his mind, which is his greatest performance this year.

"After a fairly slow start things picked up and my training regime yielded some great results. The 200 metres world record in Berlin was spectacular for me," he said recently.

Now he is looking forward to the next three years which culminate with the 2012 Olympics in London.

"As long as I am able to stick to my training plan all will be well. It will take continuous hard work and dedication on my part to achieve my goals as I prepare for South Korea (World Championships) in 2011 and London (Olympic Games) in 2012," he added.

Bolt is also looking forward to next year's new IAAF Diamond League which replaces the Golden League grand prix meets. He could make more assaults on his already impressive world record collection.

"Although there is no major meet in 2010, the track and field fraternity is set to put on some exciting meets and I will try to maintain and better my performances during the season," he said.

Car accident

Even with all his success in 2009 Bolt will be thanking his lucky stars after he escaped, with just minor injuries, from a car accident in late April. The accident came at possibly the right time for the athlete. He had completed most of his background work and had enough time for healing ahead of the major meets of the summer. He missed the Jamaica International Invitational on May 2 but was able to fulfil other engagements in Europe by mid-May including a 150-metre street race in Manchester, England. He celebrated his return to competition with the fastest ever time over the rarely run distance, clocking 14.35 seconds to beat the 14.99 mark of Canada's Jamaican-born Donovan Bailey.

Still not at full fitness, Bolt clocked 9.86 over 100 metres and 20.25 for the 200m at the June 26-28 National Senior Championships to book his ticket to Berlin.

He went on to have a superb summer on the grand prix circuit clocking fast times at every stop and wooing the crowds with his carefree demeanour.

At his first meet, July 7, the Athletissima in Lausanne, Switzerland, Bolt won the 200 metres in the fifth fastest time ever beating World and Olympic 400 metres champion LaShawn Merritt who was well back in 20.41.

Another fast 100 metres, 9.79, followed at the Paris Grand Prix before Bolt completed his pre-Berlin preparations with an easy 9.91 at the London Grand Prix on July 24.

With his exploits in Berlin in the record books Bolt went back on the Grand Prix circuit on August 24 with a 9.81 100 metres run to defeat countryman Asafa Powell, 9.88, at the Weltklasse Golden League meet in Zurich, Switzerland.

Bolt took his show to the Van Damme Memorial Golden League in Brussels, Belgium on September 4 with another sizzling run in the 200 metres. His 19.57 seconds, the fourth fastest time ever at the distance.

He then closed off his season in style, winning the 200m with a 19.68 seconds championship record on day two of the two-day World Athletics Final in Thessaloniki, Greece.

FACT FILE

Name: Usain Bolt

Date of birth: August 21, 1986

Parish of birth: Trelawny, Jamaica

Schools attended: Waldensia Primary and All-Age, William Knibb Memorial High schools

Events: 100 and 200 metres

Personal bests: 100m (9.58 seconds), 200m (19.19 seconds)

Major achievements