While scientists may quibble over the reason for this
success, there’s no doubting the rewards it’s brought. He
is the world-record holder in the men’s 100m (9.58s),
200m (19.19s) and, along with his Jamaican teammates,
4x100m relay (36.84s). As a result, he earns a reported
$24 (€17.72) million a year, owns a mansion in Kingston,
with a Jacuzzi and a swimming pool, and everyone from
Prince Harry to Cristiano Ronaldo wants to meet him.
So, what keeps him grounded? The reply that comes
is inevitable: letting off steam at nightclubs and meeting
girls. “When you look at these superstars who do crazy
things, it’s the pressure that people put on them that
makes them do what they do,” he says. “I have said it
before about footballers who get married so young, and
then they cheat and you wonder why. It is because they
didn’t enjoy their youth. So girls are throwing
themselves at them, but they are married at 21. Come on!
That has
got
to be hard, to say no to chicks who are hot
and just want you. Let people enjoy life.”
It’s to that end that when he’s not smashing world
records, he likes to spin the vinyl variety. “Being a DJ is
so complicated, even though initially it seems easy,” says
Bolt. “I have decks at home. In Europe, people don’t judge
you as much as in Jamaica. As long as I play the right
song, people are happy. In Jamaica, you have got to be on
the beat and on time. I did one set in Paris, which was
magnificent. Puma [Bolt’s sponsor] had a big show in
Paris with 5,000 people in one square, and I got up on
stage and thought: ‘This is a lot of people staring at me
and I am the only person they are looking at’. But I was
playing well, the energy was right and I got it good.”
in order to be close to the home of his agent, Ricky
Simms. It means that he’s become quite familiar with
the city. He sneaks out to visit the local cinema and to
frequent Chinese takeaways, occasionally goes shopping
in Carnaby and Bond Streets, and even celebrated his
DURING THE SUMMERMONTHS,
THE SPRINTER
LIVES AND TRAINS
INCOGNITO
IN TEDDINGTON, WEST LONDON,
06
»
06
PHOTO
CORBIS, GETTY
0 9 5
WINNER’S TABLE
05
Bolt’s running shoes,
after winning the
men’s 4×100m relay
final in Beijing
06
Claiming gold in the
at the 2012 Olympics
U S A I N B O L T
