In the summer of 2008, Usain Bolt made history at the Beijing Olympics, but one of his most iconic feats—the breaking of Michael Johnson’s 19.32-second 200-meter world record—might never have occurred without an unexpected conversation with his roommate.
At that time, Bolt had just dazzled audiences by winning gold in the 100 meters with a world-record time of 9.69 seconds. Despite celebrating early and running with an untied shoelace, Bolt had already proven himself to be a force on the track. Experts suggested that had he run the full distance without holding back, he could have finished in an astonishing 9.55 seconds. However, Bolt’s focus was more on securing the gold than setting records, as he explained:
“I wasn’t bragging. When I saw I wasn’t covered, I was just happy,” Bolt said, responding to criticism over his celebratory chest-slapping near the finish line.
Soon, attention shifted to his potential in the 200 meters, an event where Michael Johnson’s long-standing 19.32-second world record seemed unbeatable. Bolt himself doubted he could reach it—until his roommate, Jamaican decathlete Maurice Smith, encouraged him to believe otherwise.
Bolt recalled the conversation in an interview on the High Performance Podcast, explaining how it shifted his perspective:
“I remember it was after the 200 meters that I really thought about it because in 2008, Michael Johnson’s world record looked far away from breaking. I was running okay.
“We were having a conversation, and he was like, ‘Are you going to go for the 200 world record?’ And I go, ‘That is hard to get,’ and he was like, ‘Why not? You just jogged to the world record in the 100 meters. Why not go for it in the 200?’
“I sat down going back and forth and was like, ‘You know what? Why not try?’”
Bolt’s hesitation stemmed from the magnitude of Johnson’s record, set at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, where Johnson ran an incredible 19.32 seconds—a time unbeaten for 12 years. However, Maurice Smith’s encouragement helped Bolt overcome his doubts, sparking the belief that no achievement was out of reach.
“I limited myself because I told myself there was no way I would break that 200-meter record. I was not running that fast. But after that, I realized that anything was possible. Do not think about limits. Do not limit yourself. Never think it cannot be done.”
On August 20, 2008, Bolt entered the 200-meter final with a new sense of purpose. Unlike the 100 meters, where he celebrated early, he ran full speed to the finish, even dipping his chest to reduce his time. The result? A jaw-dropping 19.30 seconds—a new world and Olympic record that surpassed all expectations and solidified Bolt’s place in history.
This feat was even more extraordinary considering the 0.9 m/s headwind he faced, making the achievement all the more impressive. Bolt not only dethroned Johnson but proved that with self-belief and relentless effort, no goal was too ambitious.
The moment was celebrated worldwide, with the stadium playing “Happy Birthday” as Bolt’s 22nd birthday was just hours away. Reflecting on that unforgettable run, Bolt’s words continue to inspire:
“After that, I realized that anything was possible.”
Thanks to a candid conversation with Maurice Smith, Bolt overcame mental barriers and turned what seemed impossible into reality, leaving a lasting legacy that inspires generations.
