Usain Bolt: A Global Superstar!

Researched and Compiled by HB - courtesy of Arthur 'Turo' ZiadieMonday, June 4, 2012

I decided to compile this special issue of "Brown's Sports Beat" after realizing that many of the people with whom I've had discussions, while demonstrating full awareness of Usain Bolt's exploits on the track and his greatness as an athlete, did not fully realize the extent of his global popularity. In fact, I'll always remember NBC's Ato Boldon, in a live commentary from Berlin, Germany during the 2009 IAAF World Championships, stating plainly that Bolt is among the three most popular athletes on the planet. Ato was certainly correct! Also, I believe it was British commentator Peter Matthews who, in a live commentary during last year's IAAF World Championships in Daegu, South Korea, likened the reception given to Bolt abroad with that of a rock star. I hope you enjoy these photos that I've researched and compiled of Bolt and his activities off the track. - HB
 

 

DAEGU, SOUTH KOREA - AUGUST 20, 2011: In the two photos above, Usain Bolt poses at the Daegu Bell prior to the start of the lAAF World Athletics Championships in Daegu, South Korea. (Photo by Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images for Puma)

 

THESSALONIKI, GREECE - SEPTEMBER 11, 2009: Usain Bolt races a local child during his visit to a school in Thessaloniki, Greece. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)

 

THESSALONIKI, GREECE - SEPTEMBER 11, 2009: Bolt is escorted back to his car by security during his visit to a local school on September 11, 2009 in Thessaloniki, Greece. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)

 

MADRID, SPAIN - AUGUST 29, 2009: In the photos immediately above and below, Usain Bolt kicks-off the ball at the start of the La Liga match between Real Madrid and Deportivo La Coruna at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium on August 29, 2009 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)

 

 

MADRID, SPAIN - AUGUST 29, 2009: Bolt visits COE in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Alejandro Gonzalez/Real Madrid via Getty Images)

 

OSTRAVA, CZECH REPUBLIC - MAY 23, 2012: Bolt poses with children during the Chocolate Children's Spike ahead of the IAAF World Challenge Athletics Meeting Golden Spike (Zlata tretra)  in Ostrava, Czech Republic. The Golden Spike took place in Ostrava on May 24-25. (Photo by Pavel Sonnek/ isifa/VLP/Getty Images)

  MONTE-CARLO, MONACO - NOVEMBER 12, 2011: Usain Bolt (centre left) of Jamaica and Sally Pearson (centre right) of Australia pose with their male and female 2011 World Athletes of the Year awards next to President of the IAAF Lamine Diack and Prince Albert II of Monaco at the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) World Gala on November 12, 2011 in Monte-Carlo, Monaco. (Photo by Frederic Nebinger/Getty Images)
  MONTE-CARLO, MONACO - NOVEMBER 12, 2011: Usain Bolt (second left) and Sally Pearson pose with their male and female 2011 World Athletes of the Year awards next to President of the IAAF Lamine Diack (left) and Prince Albert II of Monaco at the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) World Gala on November 12, 2011 in Monte-Carlo, Monaco. (Photo by Frederic Nebinger/Getty Images)
 MONTE-CARLO, MONACO - NOVEMBER 12, 2011: Usain Bolt and Sally Pearson win the IAAF athlete of the year award at the IAAF World Gala on November 12, 2011 in Monte-Carlo, Monaco. (Photo by Frederic Nebinger/Getty Images)

 

KINGSTON, JAMAICA - MARCH 6, 2012: In the photo above and the next two below, Prince Harry races Usain Bolt at the Usain Bolt Track, University of the West Indies on March 6, 2012 in Kingston, Jamaica. Prince Harry was in Jamaica as part of a Diamond Jubilee Tour, representing Queen Elizabeth II. The tour covered four countries: Belize, the Bahamas, Jamaica and Brazil. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images)
 

 

  

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 15, 2010: Usain Bolt dances with the Justice Crew prior to the Athletic Allstars Meet at Sydney Olympic Park Athletic Centre on September 15, 2010 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)

 

 

TORONTO, ON - JUNE 10, 2009: Usain Bolt, world record holder for both the 100-meter and 200-meter races, talks to the media after receiving the Laureus World Sportsman of the year during an awards ceremony held at The Four Seasons Hotel on June 10, 2009 in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by John Gichigi/Getty Images for Laureus)

SLAVKOV U BRNA, CZECH REPUBLIC - MAY 29, 2011: Usain Bolt attends a celebrity golf tournament on May 29, 2011, in Slavkov u Brna, Czech Republic. (Photo by Tomas Hajek/isifa/Getty Images)

 

LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 28, 2011: Sprinter Usain Bolt (center) and rapper Tinchy Stryder (left) perform ahead of the UEFA Champions League final between FC Barcelona and Manchester United FC at Wembley Stadium on May 28, 2011 in London, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)

 

LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 28, 2011: Bolt (left) performs ahead of the UEFA Champions League final between FC Barcelona and Manchester United FC at Wembley Stadium in London, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)

 

ROME, ITALY - MAY 24, 2011: Bolt signs autographs for fans after the IAAF Golden Gala press conference in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Paolo Bruno/Getty Images) 

DAEGU, SOUTH KOREA - MAY 19, 2010: Usain Bolt of Jamaica signs his autographs to fans after winning the men's 100-meter race during the Colorful Daegu Pre-Championships Meeting 2010 at Daegu Stadium on May 19, 2010 in Daegu, South Korea. (Photo by Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images)

 

OSTRAVA, CZECH REPUBLIC - MAY 27, 2010: 100 meters world record holder Usain Bolt celebrates with fans after winning the 300 meters race at the IAAF World challenge Golden Spike Ostrava on May 27, 2010 in Ostrava, Czech Republic (Photo by Martin Divisek/VLP/isifa/Getty Images)

 

SHANGHAI, CHINA - MAY 23, 2010: Usain Bolt's fans celebrate his victory in the 200-meter race during the IAAF Diamond League Shanghai at Shanghai Stadium on May 23, 2010 in Shanghai, China. (Photo by Adam Pretty/Getty Images)   

 DAEGU, SOUTH KOREA - SEPTEMBER 4, 2011: Bolt celebrates victory and a new world record with his mother Jennifer Bolt following the men's 4x100-meter relay final during day nine of 13th IAAF World Athletics Championships at Daegu Stadium on September 4, 2011 in Daegu, South Korea. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Bongarts/Getty Images)     

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - MAY 17, 2009: Usain Bolt shakes hands with crowd after his victory in the 150-meter Men's Final during the Bupa Great City Games held on Deansgate on May 17, 2009 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)

 

MONACO - NOVEMBER 22, 2009: 400-meter World Champion and 4×400-meter relay Olympic Champion Sanya Richards of the USA (left) and World and Olympic Sprint Champion Usain Bolt of Jamaica (right), winners of the female and male athletes of the year awards, pose with their trophies during the IAAF World Athletics Gala at the Sporting Club on November 22, 2009 in Monaco. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)

 

AHMEDABAD, INDIA - MARCH 22, 2011: Sachin Tendulkar of India impersonates a 'Usain Bolt' pose during India Nets Session at the Sardar Patel Gujarat Stadium on March 22, 2011 in Ahmedabad, India. (Photo by Matthew Lewis/Getty Images)

 

MUNICH, GERMANY - NOVEMBER 17, 2010: Usain Bolt (right) and German rapper D-Flame perform during a promotion session for German sports textiles brand Puma on November 17, 2010 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Alexandra Beier/Getty Images For Puma)

 

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 16, 2010: In this handout image supplied by BridgeClimb Sydney, Australian boxer Danny Green poses with World and Olympic gold medalist Usain Bolt on the Sydney Harbour Bridge on September 16, 2010 in Sydney, Australia. Bolt was in Sydney on a promotional tour to take part in the Gatorade Bolt Quest for the Fastest Man in Football. (Photo by BridgeClimb Sydney via Getty Images)

 

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 15, 2010: Boxer Danny Green (left) congratulates Usain Bolt after the celebrity relay during the Athletic Allstars Meet at Sydney Olympic Park Athletic Centre on September 15, 2010 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images) 

 

DAEGU, SOUTH KOREA - SEPTEMBER 4, 2011: Usain Bolt poses with a cheque after Jamaica broke the world record for the men's 4x100 metres relay during day nine of the 13th IAAF World Athletics Championships at Daegu Stadium in Daegu, South Korea. (Photo by Mark Dadswell/Getty Images)

 

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - MAY 15, 2009: The great soccer player Cristiano Ronaldo of Manchester United meets Olympic Champion Usain Bolt ahead of a First Team training session at Carrington Training Ground on May 15 2009, in Manchester, England. (Photo by Matthew Peters/Manchester United via Getty Images)

 

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - MAY 15, 2009: Sir Alex Ferguson and the Manchester United squad meet Olympic Champion Usain Bolt ahead of a First Team training session at Carrington Training Ground on May 15 2009, in Manchester, England. (Photo by Matthew Peters/Manchester United via Getty Images)