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JockBio
Vital Stats |
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• Sprinter |
• Country: Jamaica |
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• Height:
6' 5" |
• Weight:
207 |
• Born: 8/21/86 |
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- One of Usain’s all-time heroes was Jamaican track star Herb McKenley. McKenley was in his 80s when he passed away in 2007.
- Usain attended the Waldensia Primary and All-Age School as a boy.
- Usain was offered track scholarships by several U.S. schools but chose to live and train in his home country.
- Usain received the 2002 and 2003 IAAF Rising Star Award.
- By the age of 16, Usain had surpassed the times Michael Johnson had recorded at age 19.
- In 2004 Usain ran the 200 meters in 19.93 seconds. No junior sprinter had ever broken the 20-second barrier,
- In 2008, Usain became the first runner since fellow Jamaican Donald Quarrie to hold the world records in the 100 meters and 200 meters simultaneously.
- Usain’s world record time in 2008 in Beijing came in the face of a slight headwind.
- Usain’s gold medal in the 100 meters was the first for Jamaica at the 2008 Olympics.
- By the end of the 2008 season, nine of the 10 fastest times in the history of the 100 meters had been recorded by either Usain or Asafa Powell.
- Usain was awarded the Order of Distinction by Jamaica for his 2008 Olympic accomplishments.
- Usain ran in a pair of golden Pumas during the 2008 Olympics.
- When Usain crossed the finish line for his Olympic victory in the 100 meters, his shoelace was untied.
- Usain’s dad attributes his son’s speed to “Yam Power.” Usain also admits to loving chicken nuggets.
- After the 2008 Olympics Usain donated $50,000 to the children of Sichuan Province who suffered in the earthquakes of that year.
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Donald Quarrie,
1972 Track & Field News
Asafa Powell booklet
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