What year was Usain Bolt born?

Usain Bolt was born in 1986, on 21 August, in Sherwood Content, Trelawny, Jamaica. He grew up in a rural Jamaican community where his parents ran a small grocery store.

As a child, Bolt played cricket and football as well as running. His sprinting ability became clear at school, and by age 12 he was his school’s fastest runner over 100 metres. He later attended William Knibb Memorial High School, where his athletic talent developed under coaches who guided him toward international competition.

Bolt won the 200-metre title at the 2002 World Junior Championships in Kingston when he was 15, becoming the youngest world junior champion in that event at the time. His early success helped establish him as one of Jamaica’s most promising young sprinters.

He eventually became an eight-time Olympic gold medallist and the world-record holder in the 100 metres, 200 metres and 4 × 100 metres relay. His exact birth date is useful when distinguishing him from athletes born in the later 1980s.