BOLT ON HIS
HE’S the fastest man in history and the most charismatic man in sport but Usain Bolt made jaws drop yet again with the Father’s Day introduction of his twin sons Thunder and Saint Leo.
He and his partner of six years, model Kasi Bennett, kept the pregnancy secret from his 10 million Instagram followers. But from the giant smile he’s flashing on our Zoom call, he is thrilled that fans applaud the names he chose for daughter Olympia’s brothers, even if Kasi took some convincing.
Usain, 34, says: “The rule was, when we were expecting Olympia, that if we had a girl Kasi got to name her.
“And if a boy, I got to name them. So that’s how it worked out. She wasn’t too hot on Thunder Bolt. But then she was like, ‘All right, let’s do it’.”
Sprint ace Usain, who retired after pulling up with a hamstring injury during London’s 2017 World Championships, is getting enough sleep only “sometimes but not all the times”.
So what takes more effort, looking after three kids under two or running 100 metres in under 9.6 seconds?
“Listen, three babies for sure. When they start crying all together, it’s like pandemonium. You don’t know what to do. So it’s difficult but it’s so worth it.”
The babies’ arrival was kept secret because “it made it easier for Kasi, so she could relax and there wasn’t too much attention or stress on her,” says Usain.
“People always want to ask questions or want to come over and hang out. The last time, people were like, ‘Oh my God’ and all over her on social media. And she just wanted to have a quiet pregnancy.”
Usain is in front of shelves showing a tiny fraction of his trophies and medals. Among them are eight Olympic golds. He is the only sprinter to win the 100m and 200m at three consecutive Games: 2008, 2012 and 2016.
But he feels more pride for his children than for all of his glittering awards.
“People always tell you, the moment you get your first child it’s going to change your life. And it does. It’s something that I really appreciate and love.
“And I’m just really looking forward to seeing how they’re going to grow, or if they want to do track and field – or not do any sports.
“Every day there’s something new. It makes you smile, makes you happy.”
Competitors who trailed in Usain’s wake might breathe easier knowing he will not run in the Tokyo Olympics, which open today.
He believes it’s right the Games go ahead in the middle of the pandemic but feels sorry for anyone competing without the energising effect of cheering crowds.
“I feel they’ve been sitting out for so long throughout the pandemic.
“But it’s also a job for them and they lost one year and they’ve finally been given the chance to compete. I feel like it’s necessary for the athletes.
“So I personally feel like they deserve this. Just like how they are playing football and everything else.
“They should just carry out the right protocols and it should be able to go on.
“I definitely feel having empty
I’d have run fast but I don’t think the record would be so great
USAIN BOLT ON RUNNING WITH NO CHEERING CROWD
stadiums would affect me. I feel the crowd, I live for the energy, the vibe, the noise. So for me to walk into an empty stadium, I feel it would affect me a little.” Would he have achieved his world records without the crowd from all nations screaming his name?
“I really don’t know. I think would have run fast but I don’t think the record would be so great, do you know what I mean?
“Because when I walk out and I get that chill and that vibe, it always drives me to do even better.”
Although many believe Usain’s records will never be broken, he is bracing himself to see them tumble one day.
“The possibility’s always there, records