Usain Bolt’s times in the 100 and 200 metres still stand to this day with the Jamaican idol breezing to world records in both events, yet he has much more affection for one over the other
Usain Bolt revealed he treasures his 200m record over his 100m time as he christened the event his favourite. Bolt is widely regarded as the greatest sprinter of all time, with eight Olympic gold medals and world records in the 100m, 200m, and 4x100m.
The Olympic icon ran the 200m in 19.30 at the Beijing Olympics in 2008 to break the previous best. He then eclipsed his own time at the World Championships a year later by achieving a new record of 19.19 – a time that still stands above the rest to this day.
The 38-year-old also smashed the fastest-ever 100m with a stunning 9.58 at the 2009 Worlds, another time that’s still to be beaten. However, despite running the three fastest 100m on record, he has expressed his preference for the longer race.
“The 200m is my favourite event,” he said on the Ready Set Go podcast. “So when I got that, it meant so much more to me than the 100m.”
Bolt has claimed he viewed the 200m world record, then held by US star Michael Johnson, as “untouchable”. He even insisted that he believed it would be a “waste of time” to even try and break Johnson’s time of 19.32, admitting: “When I broke it in 08, I didn’t know I could do it.”
Yet Bolt’s performances in ’08 and ’09 are now written into track history. 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.”
With the emergence of young Australian sprinting star Gout Gout, much has been made of Bolt’s records and just how long the Jamaican icon has to hold on to them. The 17-year-old has already smashed Bolt’s record for the fastest time in the 200 metres by a 16-year-old.
Gout also notched up a wind-assisted 200m time of 19.98 earlier this year. His official personal best in the 100m remains at 10.17 seconds, yet he did bag a wind-backed 9.99 in the event in Perth last month.
With his records potentially under siege, Bolt did tease a return to the track, but for an All-Star meet with other retired athletes, 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,” he 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.”
