Olympic legend: The 'Lightning Bolt'

The greatest sprinter in history is chasing an unprecedented 'three-peat' at the Rio Olympic Games

What I always wanted was to be great," Usain Bolt said in a recent interview with the Daily Telegraph. "For me, it means being remembered. People talk about sports all the time, and I want to be a part of that conversation, you know what I mean? When they talk about greats it's always Muhammad Ali, Michael Jordan, Pelé. I want to be a part of that conversation so when they talk about the greats they say Muhammad Ali, Michael Jordan, Pelé, Usain Bolt.' Don't people say that already?
"Yeah, but I'm still running. I'm still fresh in their mind. I want that when I retire I'm so great that you can't forget me, because you can never forget what Ali and all these guys have done. They have really stamped their mark on history. That's what I want to do, and I think this Olympics will help me to do that. People tell me, you're a legend. Yeah, but this Olympics will do it."
Bolt, the fastest man ever to have walked on earth, is obviously chasing the unprecedented 'three-peat' at the Rio Olympic Games. But it could take a herculean effort from the Jamaican. The six-time gold medallist is battling a hamstring injury and unless he gains complete fitness by the time track of field events start in Rio, it will be tough for him to stop his opponents from taking his titles .
But then it's impossible to write off a man who had overcome injury worries four years ago in London Olympics to defend the three titles he famously won at the Beijing Games in 2008 and one who hasn't lost a major race in eight years.
Of course, it all started at the Bird's Nest in 2008.
In the 100m final in Beijing, Bolt broke new ground by taking the gold with a timing of 9.69s, breaking his own world record.
And this was done without a favourable wind! Remarkably, Bolt slowed down to celebrate before he finished, leading many to predict that he would have clocked a much better time if he had kept his pace. That stunning run made him a superstar overnight and he hasn't looked back since.
Now, the 29-year-old superstar knows Rio could be the last Olympics of his career. And he would be hoping to go out in style.
Of course, the sport needs another superlative run from the man. At a time when doping scandals have tarnished the image of athletics, another epic show from the man could help athletics revive its glory.
"I was made to inspire people and to run, and I was given the gift and that's what I do," he had once said.
"I am confident in myself and my team, the people I work with. And I know I am clean. So I'm just going to continue running, using my talent and just trying to improve the sport."
The sport definitely owes a lot to Usain Bolt.