A season-ending injury hasn’t stopped Usain Bolt from celebrating.
The world’s fastest man turned 24 over the weekend and then signed a three-year contract extension with German apparel company Puma on Tuesday that is said to be the biggest for a track and field athlete.
Although contract terms of the deal were not released, Puma chairman and CEO Jochen Zeitz said Bolt would be the “best-paid athlete in track and field history.”
“It’s good, man. I’m happy,” Bolt said. “I’m very happy with the figure.”
Bolt set world records in the 100 and 200 at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and helped Jamaica capture another gold and set another world record in the 4x100 relay. A year later, he again set world records in the 100 and 200 at the world championships in Berlin.
Bolt said this month he is cutting short his 2010 season short because of his ailing back. Now he is pain free and looking forward to defending his sprint titles at next year’s worlds and the 2012 London Olympics.
“I’m trying to make myself a legend,” he said. “People are really looking forward to me breaking records. I’m going to go run hard to win, that’s my aim. And every time I go out there and run hard to win, I get records.”
“He’s not just an athlete that promotes performance products but he’s also an athlete that transcends well beyond his sport into lifestyle, and that’s where we see the opportunity,” Zeitz said.
Bolt’s announcement on his shortened season came days after he lost a 100m race in Stockholm to Tyson Gay. It was his first loss in an individual race in two years.
The early end to Bolt’s season will keep him from the Commonwealth Games in India.
“It wasn’t really part of his training schedule and race schedule anyway,” Zeitz said. “It’s unfortunate that he’s missing a few races, but we all know that 2011 and 2012 are the really important years.”
Bolt first signed with Puma, which also sponsors the Jamaican Olympic Association and the Jamaican Amateur Athletic Association, when he was 16.
“We’ve been together since forever,” Bolt said. “I like the fashion, so they try to make it fashionable for me ... I’m looking good, but I’m also prepared.”
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