Usain Bolt has reflected on his friendship and rivalry with Asafa Powell, explaining how their camaraderie helped Jamaica dominate the 4 x 100m relay.
Usain Bolt has shed light on his relationship with fellow Jamaican sprinting star Asafa Powell during their competitive years, revealing how their camaraderie played a crucial role in Jamaica’s dominance in the 4x100m relay at the Olympics.
Despite being individual competitors on the track, Bolt and Powell maintained a mutual respect that helped Jamaica thrive in sprinting for nearly a decade.
Notably, Bolt broke Powell’s 100m world record of 9.74 seconds in 2008 before lowering it three more times. However, this never strained their off-track relationship, allowing them to work together seamlessly in the relay events.
The duo helped Jamaica win three Olympic 4x100m gold medals, though their 2008 victory was later stripped after Nesta Carter was found guilty of doping in 2016.
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Powell has previously emphasized how their friendship fostered a positive atmosphere within the Jamaican team, creating unity that translated into success.
Speaking on the Meet The Mitchells podcast, Bolt underscored the importance of maintaining strong relationships with Powell and other Jamaican sprinters like Carter and Michael Frater, as their shared priority was national glory.
“I think I understood because when it was time for competition, it was time for competition, but we also hung out because it is what it is,” Bolt explained.
“We are friends, we’re all Jamaicans, we know each other. We might not have been tight-tight because we still competed for years, but we’re cool.”
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Bolt went on to describe the 4x100m final at the 2008 Beijing Olympics as one of his greatest moments.
That race solidified his place as a global icon, following his record-breaking performances in the 100m and 200m events.
The relay saw Carter start for Jamaica before passing the baton to Frater. Bolt then stormed through the third leg before handing it over to Powell, who anchored the team to victory.
Interestingly, the men’s relay team found extra motivation after witnessing a heartbreaking moment for the Jamaican women’s team.
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The women’s 4x100m squad, considered strong contenders for gold, suffered a disastrous baton exchange between Sherone Simpson and Kerron Stewart, resulting in their disqualification.
Their setback inspired the men to perfect their exchanges during training, ensuring they wouldn’t suffer the same fate.
“We were on the same team for the 4x100m, so we never had any bad blood or issues,” Bolt recalled. “One of my greatest moments was my first 4x100m event with all of them, and it was a joy because it was a team effort from start to finish.”
He vividly remembered the team’s preparation, saying, “I remember we would go back, warm up together, and laugh. We watched the girls take part in the 4x100m.
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“They had the potential to break the world record, but they dropped the baton. I remember we looked at each other and said we had to win the gold medal without making mistakes.”
Jamaica’s men’s relay team ultimately delivered, clocking a then-world record time of 37.10 seconds in the final—one of the many legendary moments that cemented Bolt and Powell’s legacy in sprinting history.
