Usain Bolt, recognized as the fastest man in history, celebrated his 40th birthday on Friday. An eight-time Olympic champion and holder of numerous world records in athletics, he has given the sporting world many unforgettable moments throughout his illustrious career.
However, few know that track and field was not the Jamaican's first passion, who retired in 2017. This came nine years after he stunned the world with a 100-meter run of 9.69 seconds at the Beijing Olympics in 2008—a record he improved a year later at the World Championships.
Bolt, the son of a grocery store owner in rural Jamaica, played cricket and football in the streets with his friends. Although he was good at both sports, cricket was closest to his heart.
As a batter, he was a clean and precise hitter. But due to his height, he was even better at fast bowling and dreamed of repeating the feats of legendary West Indian fast bowlers like Courtney Ambrose and Curtly Walsh.
Bolt was also the best fast bowler on his school team. It was during one such match that a teacher noticed his talent for fast running, especially when running between overs as a batter and chasing the ball during fielding.
On the teacher's advice, Bolt tried out track and field, and by the age of 12, he became the fastest runner in school over 100 meters. This marked the beginning of an epochal journey in athletics, as Bolt continued to become the greatest sprinter of all time, winning eight Olympic gold medals and 11 World Championship gold medals in the 100 meters, 200 meters, and 4x100 meters relay.
He remains the fastest man thanks to his world records—9.58 seconds in the 100 meters and 19.19 seconds in the 200 meters, both set at the 2009 World Championships, which remain valid to this day.
A big fan of Real Madrid and Manchester United, Bolt also participated in several preseason matches for the Australian football club Central Coast Mariners. Occasionally, Bolt also takes part in charity cricket matches and even managed to take a wicket of Chris Gayle.
In an interview with Khaleej Times, the West Indian cricket superstar admitted to being surprised by Bolt's ability to bowl deadly bouncers. Gayle recalled in an interview with Khaleej Times in 2021: 'His first delivery was a sharp bouncer, and I thought, 'what? You know, it was a real, real short ball, and I was under it. I thought, 'okay, let's have some fun.' I hit him for a few boundaries, and then, ultimately, a big mistake, inside edge to the stumps, and it was one of the biggest things he recorded in his book, that he dismissed Chris Gayle. It felt like winning an Olympic gold medal.'
In the same match, Bolt also hit a six and a four off Gayle, a semi-professional spinner. Gayle laughed, saying: 'It was his day. He won that battle, so I need to put him back on track. I know I can beat him on the track, even right now. I know I can beat Usain Bolt in the 100 meters right now.'
Who knows if Bolt hadn't switched from cricket to athletics in school, he might be posing in that famous 'bow and arrow' stance (when leaning sideways, holding one arm back, and pointing the other towards the sky) on iconic cricket grounds to celebrate every wicket.