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Usain Bolt is widely regarded as one of the greatest Olympians of all time and the fastest man to ever live. The flamboyant sprinter holds multiple world records and electrified the entire world in his four appearances at the Olympics. So, how many medals has Bolt won in his Olympic career, and how many of them were gold?

Usain Bolt holds three track world records

GOAT debates are all the rage in sports today. Michael Jordan or LeBron James? Tom Brady or Joe Montana? Babe Ruth or Willie Mays? There’s nothing better than arguing who’s the best to ever do it in a particular sport.

But in the world of sprinting, there is only one correct answer, and it’s Usain Bolt.

Bolt is the fastest man to ever grace the track in professional competition, as evident by the three world records he still holds. He owns the world record for the 100m sprint, the 200m sprint, and the 4 x 100m relay.

The Jamaican set his world record in the 100m sprint back at the 2009 IAAF World Championships, where he was clocked an insane 9.58 seconds. During the sprint, Bolt reached a top speed of 44.72km/h.

As for the 200m, Bolt originally set the world record with a 19.30 at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, which bested Michael Johnson’s record by just 0.02 seconds. But he crushed that record at the 2009 World Championships with a blazing 19.19.

Bolt’s 4 x 100m world record came with Team Jamaica at the London 2012 Olympics. Yohan Blake, Nesta Carter, Michael Frater, and Bolt finished in 36.84 seconds to edge out the United States.

How many gold medals has Bolt won?

Usain Bolt has won eight Olympic gold medals.
Usain Bolt holds the gold medal after winning the Men’s 200m event at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games | FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP via Getty Images

Over the course of his prolific sprinting career, Bolt has competed in four different Olympic Games. He failed to medal in the 200m at the 2014 Athens Olympics, but he rebounded with gold medal performances in the 100m and the 200m at the 2018 Beijing Olympics.

Bolt returned to the Olympics in 2012 to win gold medals in the 100m, 200m, and 4 x 100 relay in London to sweep his three races. And of, course, he swept the same three events in Rio in 2016.

The Jamaican has competed in 10 Olympic races throughout his career, and he’s won gold in eight of them. Bolt doesn’t have a single Olympic medal that isn’t gold, which is fitting for the greatest to ever do it.

Is Usain Bolt competing in the Toyko Olympics?

Unfortunately for track fans (and fans of sports in general), Bolt has retired from Olympic competition. He hasn’t raced professionally since 2017, and he won’t be in the field for any race at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Bolt retired as an eight-time gold medal winner, the world record holder in three events, and an 11-time world champion.

Now that’s GOAT talk.

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Jack Dougherty

Writing professionally since 2015, Jack Dougherty spent six years as a sportswriter with publications such as GoPSUSports.com, the Centre Daily Times, and the Associated Press before joining Sportscasting in 2020. He covers the NBA, the NFL, and the world of golf extensively and has added expertise on any team located in or around his hometown of Philadelphia. Yes, that includes the Philadelphia Eagles, the Philadelphia 76ers, and Philadelphia Phillies.

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