Usain Bolt was delighted to join a stellar list of sporting greats after being chosen as the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Lifetime Achievement Award winner for 2022.
The 36-year-old Jamaican retired from athletics five years ago but he has left an indelible and so far unbeatable mark on his sport.
Bolt became a global superstar at the Beijing Olympics in 2008, lowering his own world record mark to win the 100m gold and then breaking Michael Johnson’s 200m record to also win gold in that event.
The Sports Personality of the Year Lifetime Achievement award winner... Usain Bolt!!!
The fastest sprinter in history retired in August 2017 as a 19-time global champion 🌟#SPOTY #BBCSPOTY— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) December 21, 2022
A year later he again broke his 100m world record in winning the world title in Berlin – and his time of 9.58 seconds still stands today. Four days later he lowered his 200m mark to 19.19secs which has also not been beaten.
He went on to retain his 100m and 200m Olympic titles at the next two Games in London and Rio de Janeiro.
Bolt retired in 2017 after the World Championships in London, where he won a bronze in the 100m.
“For me it’s an honour to be amongst the greats who have received this before like Pele, Muhammad Ali,” Bolt said in a message to the awards ceremony from Jamaica.
“For me these guys are some of my favourite athletes and I look up to them.
“Also, I want to thank my family, my friends and the fans for everything throughout the years. I’ve worked hard and to get this award means a lot.”
