Usain Bolt, Fastest Man In World and God-Honoring Christian, Makes Olympic History

Aug 15, 2016 10:24 AM EDT

Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt is known for making the sign of the cross before racing competitively. He's now also known as the first sprinter to ever win three consecutive gold medals in the 100-meter OIympic races. Part of his public reaction was to post on his Facebook page late Sunday:  "Thanks for all the support my peeps ‪#‎blessed"

Nicknamed "Lightning Bolt," this sprinter hails from a rural area along the northern coast of Jamaica, and is a Catholic.  His middle name, St. Leo, was given to him in honor of one of the Catholic Church's earliest Popes.

Bolt is devout in his faith, with references on Hollow Verse calling him a "Bible-believing, God-honoring, Jesus-worshiping Christian."

On Twitter, Bolt declared:  "With God anything is possible... I demolish training today #thankuGod4"

His faith and popularity led to the Vatican inviting him to speak at a conference on global religious liberty through the popular TED (technology, entertainment and design) program.

Bolt got off to a slow start in the final race in Rio Sunday, however, while American sprinter Justin Gatlin looked to be closing in a surprise gold. But then Bolt passed Gatlin and again crossed the line well ahead of the field. "I expected better," Bolt said of himself, and his start, in an interview with NBC.

Gatlin took silver. Andre De Grasse of Canada took bronze.

Bolt entered the Rio Olympics as something of a question mark, having dropped out of Jamaican Olympic qualifying five weeks before the games with a nagging hamstring injury, reports Yahoo. He is undoubtedly the "World's Fastest Man," having broken the 100-meter world record three times and the 200-meter record two times.

Bolt turns 30 years old this Sunday, Aug. 21. When he's not running, Bolt enjoys dancing and music, along with playing cricket and basketball. He also has his own clothing line in conjunction with Puma; his own watch made by Hublot; and his own restaurant "Tracks & Records" in Kingston, Jamaica.

Additionally, the mission of his Usain Bolt Foundation is to create opportunities through education and cultural development for a positive change in youths. The organization is dedicated to the legacy for happy children and to enhance the character of children.