Bolt tells youth to work hard

KUALA LUMPUR: All eyes were on the fastest sprinter in the world as he took to the stage at the twoday Global Transformation Forum yesterday.

The world record holder in the men’s 100m sprint, Usain Bolt, was welcomed with cheers from a room full of enthusiastic fans.

It was a lively session with CNN International business correspondent and presenter Richard Quest, who posed questions that had been in the minds of the public, ranging from Bolt’s recipe for success to his retirement plans.

Bolt, who was decked out in a suit, struck his famous pose and beamed.

The lucky ones who had camera phones seized the opportunity to capture the moment.

The Jamaican-born legend said confidence, discipline, dedication and optimism had led him to success.

“There are great athletes on the running circuit, but what makes one greater is the training he goes through to get to the next level. You need to work hard and sacrifice a lot.

“I don’t have time for myself training hard for the next race. I’m confident on the track only when I have trained well.

“You have to be positive and confident all the time. Worrying about something only stresses you.

“If I have no control over something, I try not to stress about it. But it is important to find a balance in life.

“Training is intense, and whenever it gets overwhelming, I go out and party. It’s how I destress.”

He revealed that he was motivated to continue being an athletic runner, even though cricket being his first love because he wanted to buy gifts for his parents that would improve their lives.

“I set goals and standards and did not stop working until I achieved them. These are my motivations to be great. When I started out, my goal was to buy a washing machine for my mother and a car for my father.”

Bolt was spotted on the cricket ground and was asked to try his hand at being an athletic runner, which turned out to be a winning move.

“I have been good at running since I started. I was always winning. Though the initial stages were tough, I had to train my level best to compete with those who