“I want to be a legend”. These words, or at least words relaying the same sentiment, have emanated from the mouth of sprint sensation Usain Bolt countless times. Indeed, for a person who has broken the world record in the sport’s marquee event (the 100 metres) three times and the 200 metre record twice, plus being a part of the world record sprint relay team, what else could there be to aspire to?

His ambitions are even more understandable when we take into consideration his global reach. The name and idea of Usain Bolt has been firmly placed inside pop culture and he has truly become an international star. His star power was displayed two weekends ago when he hosted a charity super party and was able to garner support from international R&B stars, as well as other sports stars.

As a matter of fact, if we were to be true to ourselves, if Usain does not fulfil this tag it would be a failure to reach his full potential.

With that said, the question now beckons as to how he can achieve such a feat. Having already grabbed Olympic and World Championship gold in both the 100 and 200 metre evernts (in record time as well), he is well on his way.

Certainly, repeating these feats will go a long way to helping him achieve this status, but that cannot be all. If Bolt really wants to be recognised as a true sporting legend- someone to be mentioned in the same breath as Pele, Maradona or Mohammed Ali — he must be more than just the fastest in history at those two events.

Like Pele, Maradona and Ali, Bolt has captivated the audiences and brought previously unreceptive fans around to his sport. In fact, the IAAF has singled him out as someone through whom they will promote track and field. Like those stars as well, the sheer finesse and class with which he dominates his sport also augers well for him.

What hampers Bolt’s progress is ironically the place where he will need to dominate to be recognised as a sporting legend.

Track and field relies heavily on medals and records to validate the worth of an athlete. Time and again, we have seen an athlete’s stock rise dramatically after winning a global medal or breaking a record, allowing them to command places on the lucrative European circuit.

Therefore, in TEENage‘s eyes, it would only make sense for Usain Bolt to heed the call of many of his fans to attempt the 400 metres. Even the man who Bolt replaced as 200 metre record holder and the one whose record would be under threat if Bolt steps up — Michael Johnson — has called for Bolt to step up.

Quoted in a Decemeber 1st, 2009 Jamaica Observer article stating that Bolt has the potential to do so, Johnson is firmly of the view that Bolt can accomplish anything he wishes. As a matter of fact, he went as far as to say that if Bolt was to break the 400 metre record and hold all three sprint records at once that he doesn’t think anyone else could attain such a feat.

With that said, we at TEENage believe that Usain should listen to the legend and in so doing become one of, if not, the greatest sportsmen in history.