Usain Bolt experienced more highs than lows throughout his illustrious career but one setback still haunts the legendary track star.
The Jamaican sprinter has done it all. If his eight Olympic and 14 World Championship medals wasn’t enough to cement his greatness his two individual world records most certainly have.
Despite his years of dominance, one luckless moment that shocked that world still lingers in his mind.
Bolt lined up for the 100m final at the 2011 World Athletics Championships in Daegu, South Korea, only to see his dream snatched away in a split second.
A star-studded line-up of Bolt, Yohan Blake, Walter Dix and Kim Collins prepared for battle but things took a monumental turn when Bolt was disqualified for a false start.
The Jamaican instantly ripped off his shirt in frustration before holding his head in his hands in what was an uncharacteristic error.
Reflecting on the disappointment of that night, Bolt revealed that he was struggling throughout the season with hamstring issues.
By the end of the season his ankle and knees had locked up and despite seeking medical help, it was too late.
An air of self-doubt had also crept in that hampered his usual pre-race preparations.
“I was all in my head like, am I ready? Am I ready? Because I wasn’t the same person,” Bolt told the Obi One Podcast.
“If you watch my season I was struggling. People were running close to me in my head, I was in my head so when I got to the start even though my coach was like ‘you’re fine, relax,’ I could not get out of my head.
“As soon as I got out I was like ‘what the hell did I just do?’ It was just the fact that I was in my head worrying about if I was going to run fast, if I was ready, and that was a lesson,” he added.
Blake took full advantage by romping home in a time of 9.92 seconds to ensure the medal was claimed by Jamaica.
“I don’t think I can find words to explain it, I feel like I want to cry,” he said. “I have been praying for this moment, this is all a dream for me right now.
“Usain Bolt has been there for me. I felt I would win the race for Bolt.”
Dix, meanwhile, was left utterly stunned by Bolt’s disqualification.
He said: “I didn’t really think they were going to kick him out. How can you kick Usain out of the race?”
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