Real life in the fast line DRAMA

BBC1, 8.30pm

“THE greatest athlete who ever lived” isn’t a title anyone acquires without an insane amount of hard work and dedication.

And even though Usain Bolt has won gold medals at three different Olympic games, and is an 11-time World Champion and record holder across all his events, there are still some people who doubt just how much effort he puts into his career.

The pictures of him slowing down or flashing a cheesy grin to photographers on the finish line, the stories about eating chicken nuggets and Haribo, the footage of him enjoying the company of ladies in nightclubs or the Twitter photos of him hungover in bed probably don’t help.

But this fascinating film, which follows his journey to the 2016 Rio Olympics and his attempts to win the never-donebefore triple treble (three golds in three events at three consecutive Olympics) shows just how untrue that is. And also highlights the battle Usain has faced in more recent years – in terms of how the World’s Fastest Man, who has won everything possible, keeps himself motivated.

The 30-year-old talks openly about the struggle he has to keep pushing himself – how he’d far rather be partying or sleeping, or doing pretty much anything else. Why should he keep putting his body through such brutal punishment when he’s proved himself a hundred times over?

Featuring candid footage of the man himself – at home, bored in his hotel room, with his friends and family, on the track – there are also interviews with his best friend and manager NJ, his coach and second dad Glenn Mills, his parents, team mates, rivals and peers.

It’s a revealing and entertaining insight into the man famous and loved the world over, who has grabbed the stage in his sport in a way few other people ever have.

DEDICATED Sheer hard work has made Usain greatest athlete ever