A statue of Usain Bolt in his “To di World” pose was unveiled near those of other Jamaican icons like Bob Marley in Kingston on Sunday night.
“No words to describe how I’m feeling right now,” Bolt said at the unveiling, according to the Jamaica Gleaner. “How is this even possible? Barefoot youth from country, run up and dung, drop, buck toe, all them supp’n there. I’ve never ever, at no point, felt that I would be in this moment, as big as it is now among statues at the National Stadium where it all began.
“You really got all details right, even my toes, which are ugly. I’ve really put out my hardest to make this country proud and, even though I’m retired, will always try my best to continue making my country proud.”
The eight-foot, bronze statue stands in Independence Park, near Jamaica’s National Stadium.
A Jamaican government official said Bolt’s statue is across the street from Marley’s statue.
There are also statues of Jamaican Olympic sprint legends Merlene Ottey and Herb McKenley in the park.
In the coming years, more Jamaican sprinters from Bolt’s era will get statues, including Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Veronica Campbell-Brown and Asafa Powell.
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Thank you Jamaica. Truly Humbled pic.twitter.com/eDyTo5v9sF
— Usain St. Leo Bolt (@usainbolt) December 4, 2017
Surreal pic.twitter.com/vF9qaGpjzT
— Usain St. Leo Bolt (@usainbolt) December 4, 2017