Former American sprinter Wallace Spearmon once revealed the extent of Usain Bolt’s trash talk during his races.
Not only was Bolt an athlete to be feared due to his physical capabilities, he was able to secure a mental edge by demoralising his competitors.
Bolt understood that spectators needed to be entertained and he rose to the occasion with fun performances.
In return spectators would give all their support and energy to him rather than his opponents.
On Justin Gatlin’s (a fellow American sprinter) podcast, Spearmon explained the interesting dynamic.
He said: “He runs the race and he [Bolt] shuts it down. The last forty metres he’s looking in the crowd, pumping his chest. I’m like ‘what is wrong with him’.
“He’s doing all this, he’s showing off and now he runs in the stands. I’m like ‘oh they’re feeling this. Oh he’s entertaining. This is cool’.
“I watch that and I see what Bolt is about. When he does it to you, you’re like ‘hold on wait a minute.’
Spearmon’s first experience of Bolt’s performance was during the Zurich IAAF Golden League in 2009.
The pair were the anchors for their respective 4x100m relay team – the person who goes last.
Team USA handed Spearmon the batton over first but Bolt began to close down on the American.
Not only was the Jamaican catching up with him, he also began to advise him like a coach as Bolt took first place for his country.
“In the whole 4×100, I can hear,” said Spearmon. “‘Alright Wallace, I’m coming. Get your knees up! Look to your left, here I am! Ah, I got you, great job!’.
“We crossed and all you do is see me walk up to him, and I was like: ‘Don’t you ever do that bulls*** again, bro’.”
Prior to that event Bolt was a double record holder and double Olympic champion, having won the 100m and 200m at Beijing.
Later in 2009 he earned his first World Championship title. Three gold medals and his first in the 4x100m event.
The World’s greatest sprinter bettered his world records with a time of 9.58 seconds in the 100m and 19.19 in the 200m – both records still stand.
He retired from the sport in 2017 as a 11 time World Champion and eight-time Olympic gold medallist.
