This refers to the editorial, “Farewell to Usain Bolt” (August 15). Statistics will be in mere numbers to rightly describe the ‘lightning bolt’. The track and field king rose from a remote Jamaican village and made the 100-metre and 200-metre dash his own for almost a decade, not to mention his hand in the 4x400 metres relay. Bolt's rise to fame is a tribute to his tenacity, commitment, desire to be better than the best. There was, of course, natural talent. It will not be an exaggeration to say that Bolt almost single-handedly transformed athletics from a fading sport to an eagerly awaited event. Not the one to fall prey to doping, unlike many of his illustrious contemporaries, including the World Championship 2017, london winner Justin Gatlin, Bolt oozed sheer energy on and off the track.
The Jamaican legend's known ability to accelerate in mid-race did not come-off in the final race of his electrifying career at london. The boastful demeanour of Bolt, a showman, gelled well with his magnetic presence on the field. His longevity as an ace sprinter could be attributed to his art of fine balancing his career with personal life. That is why fans loved and admired him. After the london finals, it was Bolt who was the centre of commentators' and fans' attraction. Bolt had once said he wished to be counted along side Muhammad Ali and Pelé among other legends. No one can dare deny him that status.