Usain Bolt won his first Olympic gold medal at Beijing’s Bird’s Nest, the popular name for the Beijing National Stadium. He won the men’s 100 metres there at the 2008 Summer Olympics in a world-record time of 9.69 seconds.
The stadium’s official name is Beijing National Stadium, while its distinctive steel exterior inspired the “Bird’s Nest” nickname. Designed for the Beijing Games, it became one of the most recognisable venues in Olympic history. Bolt’s victory on 16 August 2008 made the stadium the setting for the first Olympic title of his career.
Bolt later won the 200 metres and the 4×100-metre relay in Beijing, completing a remarkable three-gold-medal Games. His 100-metre triumph was especially memorable because he celebrated before crossing the finish line, yet still broke the Olympic record. The 2008 final launched Bolt from emerging Jamaican star to global sporting icon.