Usain Bolt: Jamaican Sprint Legend Chooses Between Gold Medals and World Records

• Usain Bolt is undoubtedly the best sprinter in history
• The Jamaican dominated the 100m and 200m for a decade
• He says winning gold medals was all that mattered to him

Usain Bolt is one of the greatest athletes in history.

He took sprinting to a level few people had seen and set almost invincible world records that stand today.

Those world records brought him countless gold medals, including eight from the Olympics, the biggest stage in sport.

Jamaica had moderate success before Bolt took over men's sprinting, mainly the 100m and 200m. From 2008 to his retirement in 2017, he had shattered the 100m (9.58) and 200m (19.19s) world records.

He set new marks in 2009; few athletes have come close to eclipsing. For Bolt, one thing mattered to him.

"This [winning eight Olympic golds] means a lot more to me than the world records, he told Eurosport.

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"The fact that I dominated over the period of time that I did has never been done before, and it's going to be hard to replicate. Winning the eight gold medals throughout my era means a lot more to me."

Bolt won gold in the 100m and 200m at the 2008, 2012, and 2016 Olympics, a feat a handful of athletes achieved.

Apart from winning eight gold medals at the Olympics, he won 11 world titles, making him the most decorated athlete on the track, per World Athletics.

Bolt names his biggest regret

A decorated athlete like Bolt should have no regrets. However, the Jamaican recently spoke about the biggest regret of his incredible career.

He says not running faster in the 200m, possibly under 19 seconds, as Sports Brief earlier reported. He clocked 19.19 seconds at the 2009 World Athletics Championships, and no one has touched it since.

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Powell weighs in on Bolt's records

Sports Brief also reported on former 100m world record holder, Asafa Powell, speaking on Bolt's world records and if any of them could be broken soon.

Powell believes the 100m world record will not be touched for a long time, but thinks the 200m mark could be broken soon.