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Tag: Usain Bolt

  • Father of Usain Bolt, Wellesley is dead

    Father of Usain Bolt, Wellesley is dead

    The father of prominent Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt, Wellesley Bolt has passed away at the age of 68.

    According to the UK Independent, Wellesley Bolt reportedly died on Monday in Jamaica after a prolonged battle with illness.

    Confirming Wellesley’s demise, Jamaica’s Prime Minister, Andrew Holness, extended his condolences on social media, saying: “I join with every Jamaican in extending my deepest and most sincere condolences to Usain Bolt, his beloved mother Mrs. Jennifer Bolt, and the entire Bolt family, following the passing of their patriarch, Mr. Wellesley Bolt.

    “Mr. Bolt was the father of a global icon and a strong, quiet force behind one of Jamaica’s greatest sons. His presence, support, and guidance helped to shape a legacy that continues to inspire the world.”

    Wellesley is survived by his wife, Jennifer, and their three children.

  • Usain Bolt hails Nigeria’s Tobi Amusan for setting World Record

    Usain Bolt hails Nigeria’s Tobi Amusan for setting World Record

    Jamaican veteran sprinter and the current World record holder in the 100m (Male Category) Usain Bolt has congratulated  Nigerian prodigy and rave of the moment Tobi Amusan on her feat in the 100m hurdle at the just concluded World Athletics championship in Oregon, USA.

    Recall that  Amusan became the first Nigerian athlete to win a gold medal in the World Athletics Championship when she stormed to victory in the women’s 100m hurdles in Oregon on Sunday within 12.06 seconds.

    Before her triumph at the World Athletics championship, Tobi had failed to get to the podium finish twice when she finished fourth at the Tokyo Olympics and the World Athletics Championship held in Doha in  2019

    Amusan had earlier broken the world record in the semi-finals, where she clocked 12.12sec

    Quoting a tweet confirming Tobi’s win at the semis by the World Athletics official page, Bolt lauded the champion.

    “Congrats,” he tweeted with emoticons of the Nigerian flag and applauses.

    After her performance in the finals, the Jamaican athlete also wrote, “Superb #Tobi.”

  • What Sir Alex and I discussed after Man Utd win – Usain Bolt

    What Sir Alex and I discussed after Man Utd win – Usain Bolt

    Jamaican sprint great Usain Bolt has detailed his conversation with former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson last night.

    Bolt was among the crowd as United defeated Villarreal in their second Champions League group stage match.

    Speaking to the Manchester Evening News following the match, Bolt said: “He [Ronaldo] helped to build the club and it was wonderful when he was here, the energy. So I’m happy he’s back.

    “I just saw Alex Ferguson inside and I thanked him for bringing Cristiano back, so I’m happy about it.”

    Bolt, a self-confessed huge United fan added: “I’m happy to be here, I haven’t been back to Old Trafford in a while, so I’m just happy to be here in the stands with everybody to watch the game.”

  • Usain Bolt gets Maltese club’s contract

    Olympic sprint champion, Usain Bolt, has been offered a two-year contract to play soccer with a Maltese club, Valletta FC, ESPN has reported.
    The offer has triggered speculation that Bolt may be set to walk out from his trial at Australian team, Central Coast Mariners.
    Maltese champions, Valletta, said they hoped to sign the eight-time Olympic gold medallist in time for him to participate in their Super Cup match on Dec. 13 against Balzan.
    “A champion is always welcome and at Valletta FC, we believe nothing is impossible,” ESPN quoted Valletta’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Ghasston Slimen, as saying.
    “Bolt’s agent in Australia, Tony Rallis, had also confirmed the approach,’’ ESPN said.
    Bolt scored two goals for the Mariners in a pre-season trial match on Friday, but has not been offered a professional contract by the A-League team.
    A Mariners’ spokesman said there was no change in Bolt’s position at the club, describing reports that he might quit his trial as “rumours”.
    The 32-year-old Jamaican has repeatedly expressed his hope to win a contract ahead of the Mariners’ 2018-19 A-League campaign which kicks off at the weekend.
    Most Australian soccer pundits said Bolt showed signs of improvement and better fitness in the Mariners’ 4-0 win over an amateur local side on Friday.
    But, they felt that he was some way off the level of being able to compete in the Australian top flight.
    Reuters/NAN

  • Usain Bolt makes football debut in pre-season match

    Olympic sprint champion, Usain Bolt, came off the bench to commence his football career with Australia’s Central Coast Mariners in a pre-season friendly at Gosford on Friday.

    Bolt later conceded that he would need more time to get up to speed.

    The 32-year-old Jamaican, who is hoping to win a professional contract ahead of the Mariners’ 2018-19 A-League campaign, was greeted by a crowd of nearly 10,000 as he stepped onto the pitch.

    The match played at the team’s base north of Sydney, saw Bolt coming in as a substitute in the 72nd minute against an amateur select side.

    With the Mariners already leading 6-0, a relaxed Bolt pulled off a few step-overs on the left wing and was inches away from connecting with a close-range tap-in.

    There were a few heavy touches and the occasional loss of possession in the final few minutes, which showed Bolt still has plenty of work to do.

    After the Mariners sealed a 6-1 victory, Bolt acknowledged that he would need at least, four months to build up his fitness levels and perform at his peak on the football pitch.

    “Probably four or five months… to get fit, two months. Four months from now, I’ll be playing like one of the guys,” he said.

    “It was good; it was what I expected. I was a bit nervous, but as soon as I got on the field it went away.

    “My fitness is much better. The more I play, listen and train the better I’ll get,” he said.

    Bolt’s attempt to transform himself from global athletics superstar to professional football player has generated huge publicity for the struggling Mariners, who finished bottom of the 10-team A-league last season.

    It has also drawn scepticism, with Adelaide United coach, Marco Kurz, questioning Bolt’s open-ended trial, saying the A-League should focus on recruiting proven talents and improving Australian youngsters.

    Reuters/NAN

  • Super Athlete, Usain Bolt to feature in Soccer Aid match at Old Trafford

    Usain Bolt will finally make his footballing debut at Old Trafford.

    The eight-time Olympic gold medallist will captain a team of celebrities and footballers for the Soccer Aid match on 10 June.

    “It’s my dream to make it as a professional footballer. To play against some of football’s biggest legends is going to be remarkable,” the Jamaican sprinter said.

    Robbie Williams will captain rivals England for the Unicef match.

    Usain has spoken previously about wanting to get into professional football after retiring from athletics last year.

    And over the weekend he put out a cheeky tweet – which led to much speculation – hinting he’d been signed to a club.

    “Robbie and his England team better watch out as I won’t be going easy on them,” said Usain, adding that he’s got a “special celebration” planned should his team win.

    The 31-year-old is a Manchester United fan, and once even made a surprise call to MUTV.

    “I always said that I want to cope in more of a team sport because the track is individual,” he told the football club.

    “I catch along easily and understand what I need to do when I get a job. When I get instructions, I can carry them out really well,” he said.

    The Soccer Aid game at the team’s home ground will see celebrities and former world-class footballers playing together on the same team.

    The event, which takes place biannually, has raised £24 million to help children since its launch in 2006.

    The match has seen the likes of footballers Maradona, Alan Shearer and Ronaldinho play alongside celebs like Mark Wright, Jack Whitehall and Olly Murs.

    Will Ferrell, Gordon Ramsay, Mike Myers and Craig David have also played in previous years.

    “Reclaiming the title for England this year is going to taste so much sweeter with Usain leading the Soccer Aid World XI,” said Robbie Williams, who co-founded Soccer Aid.

    “I can’t wait to lead out the England team.”

     

    BBC

  • Jamaica considers appeal after Nesta Carter tests negative

    Jamaica said it will appeal the decision to strip the rest of its Beijing 4x100m relay squad of their gold medals.

    The decision came after Nesta Carter’s failed drugs test.

    Usain Bolt stands to lose one of his nine Olympic golds after a re-test of Carter’s sample from the 2008 Games was found to contain a banned stimulant.

    Michael Frater, Asafa Powell and Dwight Thomas also face forfeiting medals.

    “We have to decide what the best legal process is,” Jamaican Olympic Association Chief Mike Fennell, said.

    “It is a team and we are interested in ensuring they are properly protected and given a fair chance of clearing their names.”

    Carter’s lawyer confirmed on Wednesday that the sprinter would lodge his own appeal with the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

    Bolt, 30, completed a ‘triple triple’ in Rio last summer. He won gold in the 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay to add to his successes in the same events in 2008 and 2012.

    Carter, 31, was also part of the squad that won the event in London five years ago and helped Jamaica win at the World Championships in 2011, 2013 and 2015.

    He ran the first leg in Beijing for Jamaica’s 4x100m relay team, which also included Bolt, Frater, Powell and Thomas, who ran in the heats.

    The International Olympic Committee (IOC), who are responsible for authorising the re-tests for both the Beijing 2008 and London 2012 Games, released updated statistics about the process on Wednesday.

    It was reported that they had re-tested 454 selected doping samples from 2008 and a further 250 from London using the latest scientific analysis methods.

    However, those figures have now been increased, as follows: Beijing 2008: The number of tests carried out during the event was 4,800.

    The number of samples subsequently selected for re-analysis was 1,053 while the number of athletes punished since Wednesday was 61.

    For London 2012: the number of tests carried out during the event was 5,000 and the number of samples subsequently selected for re-analysis was 492 and that process remains ongoing.

    The number of athletes punished since Wednesday stand at 37.

     

  • BREAKING: Usain Bolt stripped of Olympic gold medal

    Usain Bolt has been stripped of one of his nine Olympic gold medals after Jamaican team-mate Nesta Carter tested positive for a banned substance.

    Carter was part of the Jamaican quartet that won the 4x100m in Beijing in 2008.

    His was one of 454 selected doping samples retested by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) last year, and has been found to contain the banned stimulant methylhexaneamine.

    TheNewsGuru.com recalls that Bolt, 30, completed an unprecedented ‘triple triple’ in Rio last summer.

    He won gold in the 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay to add to his successes in the same events in 2008 and 2012.

    Carter, 31, was also part of the squad that won the event in London five years ago and helped Jamaica win at the World Championships in 2011, 2013 and 2015.

    He ran the first leg for Jamaica’s 4x100m relay team in Beijing, which also included Michael Frater, Asafa Powell and Bolt.

    The team won in a then world record of 37.10 seconds, ahead of Trinidad and Tobago and Japan, who will now have their medals upgraded. Brazil will receive bronze.

    Speaking last summer, Bolt said he would have no problem giving back a medal if it was proven that he had won it alongside a drugs cheat.

    “It’s heartbreaking [the positive test] because over the years you’ve worked hard to accumulate gold medals and work hard to be a champion… but it’s just one of those things,” he said.

    “Things happen in life, so when it’s confirmed or whatever, if I need to give back my gold medal I’d have to give it back, it’s not a problem for me.”