“Knowing Christ is the best thing that has ever happened to me, although winning the US Open was a pretty good second.”
Usain Bolt
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The story of the World’s fastest man, Steven Downes, Sports Books, Cheltenham 2011. ISBN: 978-1-907524-18-9
The first thing that strikes you about Steven Downes’s 170 page paperback is how well written it is. You will not find many of Bolt’s secrets as the book is not one on which Bolt has co-operated. It does, however, give an excellent overview of his career with the author’s expert analysis.
Downes’ first encounter with Bolt was in 2003 when he was running as a Junior. His account of the Bolt of that era gives us a rare insight into his early development. He was referred to as the future of athletics. No one could question that he has lived up to the billing.
As someone who was privileged to be there when Bolt won three Olympic gold medals in Beijing and three World Championship golds in Berlin 2009, to say nothing of two World Championship gold medals in Daegu 2011 - after that dramatic disqualification for a false start, I enjoyed re-living the experiences and the context in which Steve Downes placed them.
The 12 pages of statistics and Bolt’s career records further enhance the value of the book.
If you are looking for a reasonably priced gift for someone, you will not go wrong with this book. It is suitable for anyone who has heard of Usain Bolt – which is just about anyone on the planet. Buy it, read it and give it to a friend.