Paris 2024: When did Usain Bolt retire? What were his 100m and 200m records? How many Olympic golds did he win?
Published 03/08/2024 at 12:41 GMT+1
Usain Bolt is one of the greatest sprinters of all time and holds numerous Olympic records across the 100m, 200m and 4x100m. The Jamaican captured his first Olympic gold at the 2008 Beijing Games and went on to dominate sprinting at the highest level for the best part of a decade. discovery+ is the streaming home of the Olympic Games, and the only place you can watch every moment of Paris 2024.
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Usain Bolt is a sporting icon who made his name at the Olympics as he powered his way into the record books at the legendary event.
The Jamaican is one of the most famous and greatest sprinters of all time and holds the world record for the 100m and 200m.
He hit the scene at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, where he broke the world record en route to 100m glory and set a new Olympic record in claiming gold in the 200m.
That kick-started a scarcely believable career that spanned more than a decade as Bolt captured the hearts and minds of millions with his magnetic personality and unmatched speed.
How many Olympic gold medals did Bolt win?
Bolt finished his career with eight Olympic gold medals after having one of them revoked when Nesta Carter, one of his team-mates in the 4x100m relay in 2008, was found guilty of doping several years later.
Having taken the top step of the podium for the 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay in 2008, 2012 and 2016, that spoiled his perfect nine-for-nine record.
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Bolt won two gold medals (100m and 200m) at the 2008 Games, three gold medals (100m, 200m and 4x100m) at the London 2012 Games, and three more golds (100m, 200m and 4x100m) at the 2016 Rio Games.
He is the only sprinter in history to win gold in the 100m and 200m at three consecutive Olympics and him and Carl Lewis are the only men to win multiple 100m gold medals.
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What are Bolt’s records for 100m and 200m?
Bolt first set the 100m world record in 2008 after running it in 9.72 seconds at an IAAF World Athletics Tour meeting in New York, beating Asafa Powell’s previous benchmark of 9.74s.
He then bettered his time at the 2008 Olympics when he ran 9.69s in the final.
The following year, at the 2009 World Championships, the Jamaican ran it in 9.58s for a world record that still stands today.
Bolt ran the 100m in 9.63s at the 2012 London Olympics, meaning he has the two outright-fastest times in the history of the event.
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Bolt is synonymous with the 100m but he was also a force to be reckoned with over 200m, breaking the legendary world record set by Michael Johnson in 1996.
Johnson’s time of 19.32s had stood for 12 years until Bolt ran 19.30s in the 200m final at the 2008 Olympics.
He then beat his own world record by stopping the clock at 19.19s in the 200m final at the 2009 World Championships.
He still holds the Olympic and world record ahead of the Paris 2024 Games.
The men's 100m final at Paris 2024 takes place on Sunday, 4 August, live on discovery+.
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As well as the 100m and 200m, Bolt was also part of the Jamaican quartet that ran the fastest 4x100m time in history at the 2012 Olympics, clocking a time of 36.84s.
At the time of writing, Bolt holds the 100m, 200m and 4x100m records in both the Olympics and World Championships.
When did Usain Bolt retire?
After winning eight Olympic gold medals and 11 World Championships golds, Bolt hung up his running shoes in 2017.
An avid football fan, he attempted to pursue a career in the beautiful game. He made a series of appearances for Australian side Gold Coast Mariners in late 2018 before quitting sport entirely in 2019.
discovery+ is the streaming home of the Olympic Games, and the only place you can watch every moment of Paris 2024 this summer.
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