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Usain Bolt is not only one of the best sprinters in the world but also one of the most cheerful athletes I’ve seen. If you look at his pre and post-race routines, you can tell that he’s relaxed and having fun.
Of course, he’s put in thousands of hours of preparation to win that 100-meter race which lasts for less than 10 seconds.
No matter the sport, the stereotypical face of an athlete before such a high-stakes environment is not one of cheerfulness. It’s often a look that shows grim determination to win and give their best.
Why, then, do top athletes in every field seem more cheerful and relaxed than others?
Usain Bolt keeps his head and shoulders down for the first 30 meters of the race — he’s driving himself through. But for the last 40 to 50 meters, which are the most crucial, he actually seems relaxed. He says in a video that in these last few meters of the race, he more or less knows if he’s going to win or not.
Carl Lewis, a nine-time Olympic gold medalist, also shows similar behavior. He would often be at the last or second-to-last position at the start of his races. But towards the end, he would…
