Jamaican legend Usain Bolt reveals why his 200m world record means more than the 100m, even as young sprinter Gout Gout threatens his sprint legacy.
Jamaican sprint legend Usain Bolt may still hold the world records in both the 100 and 200 meters, but it is the latter event—the 200m—that remains closest to his heart.
Despite dominating global athletics for over a decade, Bolt has revealed that one particular sprint record defines his career more than any other.
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The fastest man alive, now 38, stunned the world at the 2008 Beijing Olympics when he broke American great Michael Johnson’s long-standing 200m record of 19.32 seconds, clocking in an electrifying 19.30 seconds. But that was only the beginning.
The 200m Record That Changed Everything
Usain Bolt: The 200m Record That Changed Everything
Bolt shocked the track world again a year later, at the 2009 World Championships in Berlin, where he set an astonishing 19.19 seconds—still the fastest 200m ever run. Despite also holding the 100m world record at 9.58 seconds from the same championships, Bolt says the 200m means more to him.
“The 200m is my favourite event,” Bolt confessed on the Ready Set Go podcast.
“So when I got that, it meant so much more to me than the 100m.”
For Bolt, the 200m represented not just speed, but the culmination of years of endurance training and tactical execution. Reflecting on his earlier doubts, he said: “When I broke it in ’08, I didn’t know I could do it. Michael Johnson’s record seemed untouchable to me.”
Even with eight Olympic gold medals and numerous accolades, Bolt said the 200m is what makes him feel invincible: “When it comes to the 200m I don’t fear anybody. I’m ready all the time.”
Gout Gout Emerges as a New Sprint Force
Now, rising stars like Australian sensation Gout Gout are drawing attention—and comparisons.
The 17-year-old recently clocked a wind-assisted 19.98 seconds in the 200m, making him the fastest 16-year-old ever over that distance. His official personal best is still growing, but his performances have already stirred speculation about Bolt’s records.
In the 100m, Gout has also flirted with the sub-10-second barrier, running a wind-aided 9.99 seconds and officially posting a best of 10.17 seconds. Though these performances aren’t yet record-breaking, they underscore the emergence of a new generation that could challenge Bolt’s sprint dominance.
Still, Bolt remains unfazed and even intrigued. He playfully floated the idea of returning to the track for a fun exhibition event, naming retired legends like Justin Gatlin, Tyson Gay, Asafa Powell, and Yohan Blake as potential competitors. He also expressed a keen interest in racing against current American star Noah Lyles.
“I’m ready, just for the fun of it,” Bolt said. “Let’s go. Me, you (Gatlin), Maurice Green, Ben Johnson—it would be fun. And give Noah a spot; I’d love to race against him.”
World’s fastest man Usain Bolt.
Even as rising stars like Gout Gout hint at the possibility of breaking new ground, Usain Bolt’s legacy remains untarnished.
The Jamaican sprint icon has set records that have stood the test of timeand in his own eyes, it is the 200m that truly defines him.
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