Usain Bolt shares which record means most to him after Gout Gout surpassed icon

Usain Bolt shares which record means most to him after Gout Gout surpassed icon

Usain Bolt

Usain Bolt has shared what event he holds above all others(Image: High Performance)

Usain Bolt has opened up about his preference for the 200 meters over the 100m, despite holding world records in both events. The legendary sprinter boasts eight Olympic gold medals and records in the 100m, 200m, and 4x100m relay.

 

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The track superstar set a groundbreaking time of 19.30 in the 200m at the Beijing Olympics in 2008, surpassing the previous record.

 

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He then outdid himself at the World Championships in 2009 with an astonishing 19.19 seconds, a record that remains unbeaten.

 

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At 38, Bolt still holds the fastest-ever 100m record as well, clocking in at 9.58 seconds during the 2009 Worlds. Despite this, and having the three fastest 100m times to his name, he has a special affection for the longer sprint.

 

“The 200m is my favourite event,” Bolt revealed on the Ready Set Go podcast. “So when I got that, it meant so much more to me than the 100m.”

 

Bolt has admitted that he once saw the 200m world record, previously held by American star Michael Johnson, as “untouchable”. He even thought attempting to break Johnson’s mark of 19.32 would be futile, confessing: “When I broke it in 08, I didn’t know I could do it.”

 

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Usain Bolt

Usain Bolt set the 200m world record at the 2009 World Championships(Image: Bill Frakes /Sports Illustrated via

His iconic performances from 2008 and 2009 have since become etched in athletics lore however. He added: “Even now people say, ‘Oh the 100?’ And I’m [like], ‘But, 200m, you know what I mean?’ It’s my favourite thing. When it comes to the 200m I don’t fear anybody. I’m ready all the time.”

 

The arrival of Australia’s young sprint sensation Gout Gout has stirred speculation about whether Bolt’s legendary records will stand the test of time.

 

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At just 17, Gout shattered Bolt’s mark for the fastest 200 metres by a 16-year-old, as per the Mirror.

 

Gout Gout of Queensland reacts after coming second.

Gout Gout could be coming for Bolt’s records in the near future(Image: Cameron Spencer/

Gout clocked an impressive, though wind-assisted, 200m time of 19.98 seconds earlier this year, and although his official personal best in the 100m is still 10.17 seconds, he did achieve a wind-backed 9.99 seconds at a meet in Perth last month.

 

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With his records potentially in jeopardy, Bolt playfully hinted at lacing up his spikes again for an All-Star event with other retired track stars, including podcast host and five-time Olympic medallist Justin Gatlin.

 

“I’m ready, just for the fun of it. I’m ready, let’s go. It’ll be fun,” Bolt said. “Me, you (Gatlin), Tyson Gay, Asafa Powell, Yohan Blake.

 

“I would definitely like to compete against Maurice Green, Ben Johnson. Let’s give Noah [Lyles] the spot just because I would love to race against him.”