His first world medals (silvers in the 200m and 4x100m) came in Osaka in 2007 – a championships Bolt credits with “opening his eyes” to the hard work required for him to be successful. A false start in the 100m in Daegu four years later offered him another reminder to keep focused on his goals.
“Everything happens for a reason,” he said. “I could have gone to Daegu and won and then false-started at the Olympics.
“It reminded me to stick to what I knew. It kept me focused and kept me going.”
The Jamaican completed an unprecedented ‘triple triple’ of Olympic gold medals at his final Games in Rio – but he has since lost his 2008 4x100m title after team-mate Nesta Carter tested positive for a banned substance.
Bolt chose to retire after the 2017 World Championships in London, where he ended his glittering career with bronze in the men’s 100m.
Reflecting on his athletics career, Bolt said: “I feel accomplished. I accomplished all I wanted to in my sport.
“It is a great feeling to know that with the determination and sacrifice that I put in I could accomplish what I wanted to. I try to motivate people by telling them to believe in themselves.”
Previous winners of the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Lifetime Achievement award include Billie Jean King, Pele, Bobby Charlton, Tanni Grey-Thompson, David Beckham, Jessica Ennis-Hill, Chris Hoy and last year’s recipient Simone Biles.
BBC Sports Personality of the Year takes place on Wednesday, 21 December at MediaCityUK in Salford.
