“I’m pissed. I don’t like my face being touched,” were the words one two-time Olympian said as he revealed something that had left him both stunned and fired up. But why shouldn’t he? After all, he found himself at the receiving end of a slap in the midst of one of the biggest races of his career. But even more shocking is who unloaded that hit on him, as it was none other than the great Usain Bolt. What? But why? Well, what started as a competitive edge turned out tense. And now the American is finally ready to reveal the exchange.
The name of the man? Wallace Spearmon. And all this went down during a particular moment between him and Bolt back during the 2007-2008 sprint battles. Now, throughout his career, Spearmon shared the track with some of the biggest names in sprinting, including fellow Americans Justin Gatlin and Tyson Gay, and of course, Bolt. But this particular interaction with the Jamaican legend has stuck with him for years.
Spearmon recently shared the details of the unforgettable moment on the Ready Set Go podcast, hosted by Justin Gatlin. It was a race at the Zurich IAAF Golden League in 2009 when Bolt’s playful yet intimidating gesture before the race added an extra layer of drama to an already heated rivalry. “Rarely do I ever get nervous in races,” Wallace Spearmon admitted on the Ready Set Go podcast, hosted by Justin Gatlin.
He reflected on a moment in his career that turned everything upside down. Yet, for some reason, the anxiety crept in before one particular race. “For whatever reason, I got nervous before this race. So we fly to this meet in Sheffield; it’s raining, it’s cold, and I’m like, I don’t feel like running.” But in a moment of uncharacteristic relaxation, Spearmon made the mistake of giving in to his nerves as he fell asleep.
He didn’t know his time to race was quickly approaching, and the unthinkable was about to happen. “I fall asleep, no alarms, no nothing,” Spearmon continued, recalling the fateful moment when the rivalry he shared with Usain Bolt took a whole new twist. “Out of nowhere, I swear to God, Bolt walks over while I’m asleep, and he slaps the yellow off my skin. Bam! Oh, shit! Wake up, you have 10 minutes before the final call; we have a race.”
The shock and adrenaline hit him like a jolt, and when the race finally unfolded, Spearmon responded in the best way possible. Out leaning Bolt at the line and leaving Bolt stunned. This wasn’t the only time Bolt played mind games with Spearmon. The Jamaican legend was known for his mental warfare on the track, using his tactics and physical dominance to get under his rivals’ skin.
How one legend’s showmanship left rivals shaken
Spearmon recalled an earlier 4×100 relay race where he had a solid head start on the anchor leg by gaining several meters from his teammate’s handoff. But against Bolt, even a cushion like that wasn’t enough. He closed the gap with alarming speed, proving once again why he was in a league of his own. As if that wasn’t enough,
Bolt added his signature mind games mid-race, taunting Spearmon with commentary the entire way down the track. By the time they hit the finish line, the physical and psychological pressure had left Spearmon completely rattled. A moment that underscored just how deeply Bolt’s presence could get inside an opponent’s head.
Crossing the line in second place, Spearmon walked up to Bolt, getting up close to address the mental game that had thrown him off. “I got real close. And I was like, ‘Don’t you ever do that again, bro. I was like, ‘What’s wrong with you, man?” While the two have since become good friends, the tension on the track in those moments was undeniable. But Usain Bolt’s mind games and impeccable timing were the stuff of legends, and they worked every time.
Combined with his sheer physical ability, it was no wonder he went on to dominate the sprinting world and become one of the most iconic athletes of all time. Bolt arguably has the greatest legacy in track and field history with 29 career medals, including 23 golds, and an undefeated Olympic streak. His blend of brilliance and bravado set him apart, and for those who faced him, the memories remain just as vivid as the impact.
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