Usain A Bolt Of Fresh Air

as seen on The Roar

As an occasional athletics viewer, Jamaican phenomenon Usain Bolt has refreshed my (and I’d argue many peoples’) perception of the sport, not because of his amazing world records, but because he comes across as a good bloke.

Bolt was undoubtedly the superstar of the 2009 World Championships in Athletics which finished up in Berlin on Sunday evening.

The Jamaican incredibly smashed two world records in the men’s 100 metres and 200 metres, which makes him the fastest man ever seen on earth.

But as a viewer from afar, world records don’t always excite, as naïve as that may sound.

Doping scandals in the past (Ben Johnson at the 1988 Seoul Olympics springs to mind or more recently Tim Montgomery and Justin Gatlin) have hampered the glory which should accompany the amazing feat of bettering mankind’s previous best achievements.

So, as someone who doesn’t actively take a huge interest in athletics, Bolt’s world record was impressive but not engaging.

Nevertheless, naturally, I decided to sit down on the couch, grab the remote and have a look at a replay of Bolt’s world record breaking sprint on the TV.

And as impressive as it is seeing a man run really fast, what really struck me was when Bolt finally found time to catch his breath and complete the formality of the post-race interview.

It is curious because my perception of these sprinters in the past, has always been of chest-beaters who come across as blokes who like themselves a little bit too much.

Indeed, some of the antics of sprinters in the past have made the 100 metre race a bit of a show, even without the race. And some of the post-race celebrations seemed to become personal self-glorifying parades.

So when Bolt chatted with his interviewer post-race, having just become the fastest man the world has ever seen, it was endearingly refreshing to see such a humble bloke.

From his Jamaican accent to his admission that his hero is Aussie cricketer Adam Gilchrist, Bolt seems like a good guy, rather than an adrenaline filled monster of a man driven only to succeed.

Bolt’s fellow countryman and 100m bronze medalist Asafa Powell too, was humble in the moment of euphoria.

Perhaps it was their Bob Marley-esque accents, but I think it was their down-to-earth attitudes, but the pair seem to have renewed my faith in the sport.

And while the 2012 London Olympics are some time away, I’ll be keeping my eye on how Bolt and Powell fare in the next few years, wishing them well.