What is Usain Bolt's nickname?

Usain Bolt’s nickname is “Lightning Bolt.” The name combines his surname with his extraordinary speed and became widely used by sports journalists and fans during his rise to global fame.

Bolt became an international star at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, where he won the 100 metres, 200 metres and 4 × 100 metres relay. His world-record performances and distinctive celebrations helped turn the nickname into a lasting part of his public identity.

The nickname is sometimes confused with fictional speedsters such as The Flash, or with “Thunder Bolt,” but those are not Bolt’s established sporting nickname. Bolt also popularised a celebratory pose often called “to di world” or “bolting,” made by extending one arm diagonally upward.

His speed-based nickname suits a career that included world records in the 100 metres, 200 metres and 4 × 100 metres relay. He retired from athletics in 2017 as one of the sport’s most recognisable figures.