Bolt, renowned for his record-breaking achievements and charismatic persona, admitted that his initial success led him to underestimate the demands of professional athletics. “When I started out because I was so talented, I didn’t train as much,” Bolt shared. “I used to beat all the seniors in Jamaica. I was like, ‘Okay, all the big guys, it sounds like it’s easy’.”
His confidence, however, faced a reality check when he experienced a series of defeats during his first international season. “I never won a race in the first season,” Bolt confessed, revealing his surprise and disappointment. “I was like, ‘Oh it is easy, I mean I am beating these guys so it should be easy when I get on the circuit’.”
READ MORE:
Perplexed by his unexpected failures, Bolt sought advice from his coach, who offered a transformative perspective. “Everybody that is on the circuit has talent,” his coach explained. “It is who works at the talent the most is going to be the best.”
This revelation was a turning point for the young sprinter. “If you are here, you got talent, the best of the best on the circuit,” Bolt reflected. “It is who puts in the work to develop that talent is going to be good.”
This lesson marked a significant shift in Bolt’s career. “That’s when I started saying, you know what, let me start putting in some work,” he noted. This renewed dedication to training, coupled with his exceptional natural abilities, ultimately propelled Bolt to become one of the greatest athletes in history.
