Bolt: It’s all about hard d work

KUALA LUMPUR: Talent only goes so far; it’s hard work that makes all the difference.

“This is the first thing he (present coach) said to me,” said Usain Bolt (pic) – who is the world’s fastest sprinter – to the 3,000 people in the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre main hall at the Global Transformation Forum yesterday.

“Everybody on the circuit has talent...But what makes them great is the training and discipline that they have,” he added.

Seated on stage with him, CNN anchor Richard Quest – the moderator of his onehour segment – referred to a clip shown on the big screen behind them, where Bolt was seen training and having fun with his friends.

“I don’t think I’m being a bit unfair when I say that you’re a party animal,” Quest said.

“I am!” Bolt said with a grin. The crowd laughed.

Bolt said partying relaxed him, adding that being on the track and field was “intense”.

“Every time it gets overwhelming, I go out and party, and then I go back,” he said, and the crowd laughed again.

Bolt said when he st arted to race professionally, his first goal w was to get his mum a washing machine and a car for his dad.

“I assume you got h her a new washing machine?” Quest asked.

“Yes, I got her a few,” came the reply from Bolt with ha laugh.

He also shared with h the audience about hi is training, the challeng es faced in his career, anda of events that he couldn’t co ontrol, such as when he had to give back a medal after a 2008 Olympic teammate in th he 4x100m relay tested positive for prohibite ed substance use.

Bolt said it took him a while to get over it, but added that when onee has no control over an event, there was no po oint getting stressed about it.

To a question from the e floor on what was the lowest point of his car reer, Bolt answered it was just after high sch hool, when he started to race professionally y.

He remembered the n nasty remarks made by some that he was mmerely good in high school and he wasn’t goinng to get anywhere big.

“If you listen to people aall the time, they get inside your head,” he said.

“Now you’re a superhero, nobody waants to pull you dowwn!” Quest said. “They still try, believe me...I don’t want to listen to negaativity,” Bolt replied.

Speaking to the Malaysiian media later, Bolt said he would only decide if he would be playing football after his trainning at German club Borussia Dortmund over tthe next few days.

He added that he had bbeen invited to train with the club and its playeers.

“Personally, I want to do it but we’ll see how it goes,” he said.

Bolt had previously vooiced his interest in playing football and posssibly even joining Manchester United after retiring from running.

He is expected to retirre from running in August.