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Usain Bolt reveals what the secret to being world's fastest man really is

The world's fastest man and greatest sprinter of all time, Usain Bolt, admitted he thinks about 'random things' such as video games or dinner as he's about to start a race

[Usain Bolt]

Bolt thinks about anything but the race when he's about to compete(Image: Getty Images)

The worlds fastest man Usain Bolt has revealed that the secret to his success is thinking about what hes going to have for dinner at the start line of a race.

Bolt, who is believed to be the greatest sprinter of all time, tries to think about random things while hes waiting for a race to start because athletes who think about what theyre about to do confuse themselves in the process.

The 38-year-old blames a false start he made in 2011 on failing to clear his mind.

READ MORE: Usain Bolt's world record smashed after 22 years by 16-year-old sprint sensation

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He told The High Performance Podcast: For me, I never talk to myself.

I always just try to think, if Im just standing on the line and you see me looking, Im trying to think about random things.

[Usain Bolt]

The athlete reckons taking his mind off the race is vital to winning(Image: Getty Images for Hublot)

Anything that can pop into my head, I try to think about it.

You know what I mean, like probably what Im going to have for dinner or if Im going to play a video game or something that happened in the day.

I try to distract myself from the moment because if you get into your head, thats when you make mistakes.

Bolt wasnt able to defend his 100m title at the 2011 World Athletics Championships in Daegu, South Korea, after having a false start which there was zero tolerance for in the competition.

[Usain Bolt]

Thinking about food or video games means he won't overthink his first move, reducing the likelihood of a misstep(Image: Getty Images)

He continued: I made one mistake in 2011 when I false started and that was the issue.

I was, because I had a bad season, and I was worried I was like am I going to start well?

Am I ready?

So the moment you start being in your head and start thinking, thats when you make mistakes.

So you have to try to clear your head, so for me, I try to think about random stuff and not think about the race.

[Usain Bolt]

Given he's the greatest sprinter of all time, he's probably on to something(Image: AFP via Getty Images)

Bolt has won nine Olympic gold medals, and holds the world record in the 100m, 200m, and 4 100m. He added: So at the moment when the starter says on your marks, if you watch me, you see me take a deep breath, and then I try to clear my mind and listen.

So thats it, but when, a lot of athletes they think about it so much.

Like Ok, I need to swing my arms, I need to get my first step right, I need to get my start right.

And then you start confusing yourself and your mind is all over the place and thats how you make mistakes.

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