[MUSIC PLAYING]
 Ladies and gentleman, nothing
but Illustrious guest number
one show on late night.
Today we have the
legendary, the fast man,
producer, proud
Jamaican athlete,
father, so many big things.
Mero, who's in the building?
 The fastest man in the world,
Usain Bolt. Make some noise!
[SHOUTING]
 Make some noise.
Make some noise for
my man, Usain Bolt,
from the proud
island of Jamaica.
Give it up for my man.
Usain, how's it
going today, man?
 Good man.
Good.
It's a hot day.
It's a hot day,
but it's been good.
 What's the temperature
right now, down there?
 I don't know, but it's hot.
[LAUGHTER]
 Ah, man.
Oh.
First of all, we
want to start off
and say congrats to you, on the
birth of your daughter, man.
 Appreciate it.
Appreciate it lots.
Appreciate it.
 What was it like, brother?
Was it emotional?
How'd you-- I cried
for my first-born.
 For me it was--
for some reason, I don't
really get emotional,
but I was excited.
That's one thing, I was really
excited, you know what I mean?
I have a different respect for
like, single parents and stuff
like that.
I got sick the first week.
You know what I mean?
All the sleepless nights
and all of that, I got sick.
It was crazy, you
know what I mean?
So, it was an experience.
So I have a different
respect for people with kids,
you know what I mean?
It's not easy.
 Right.
 Wait 'til they
start talking back.
 Oh, Jesus.
[LAUGHTER]
 You're not ready
for that, man.
Not ready for that.
What's harder, training for
the Olympics or being a parent?
 So far, being a parent.
It's 24/7.
24/7, you know what I mean.
DESUS: No breaks.
No days off.
- No breaks.
MERO: No days off.
 Zero days off.
 What goes into your
training, you know what I mean?
Because, like, it seems
like just a natural gift,
because you're so far ahead of
the field in all these races.
In all these still photographs,
you're like lapping people.
Like, is it natural?
 For me, I definitely
have a gift.
I would say, personally,
I have a gift,
but you have to work harder.
First thing my
coach told me when
we started working
together was like,
listen-- you have a talent.
But everybody has
a talent, but you
have to work on that
talent to get to the level
that you need to get at.
So I had to really work
on the talent that I had.
 Yes, I remember.
I remember.
Like, you know my
family's Jamaican,
we've always watched
you, coming up.
And it was like,
I remember, like
before '08, there were rumors.
They always said your work
ethic wasn't there, that you
didn't want it bad enough.
- True.
It's true.
It's true.
 And then '08 came--
the summer Olympics of '08.
You did your thing.
You made us very proud.
I do remember-- because the
area I lived in at the time
was called "Little
Jamaica" in the Bronx,
the Northeast Bronx--
and they put a
big Jamaican flag,
hanging from the train station.
Because that's how proud
of you we were, man.
You had us.
When you pounded
the chest at the end
of the-- what was
that feeling like,
to break, to set a world record?
 For me, it wasn't--
the Olympics, it wasn't
even a World Record for me,
at the Olympics, at the time.
It was just win, you
know what I mean?
Because as you say,
leading up to that, I was--
I-- all I was relying on
was my talent, my time,
I was doing OK.
And I finally decided,
you know what?
I'm going to put this work in.
You know what I mean?
And when I put that
work in, and then
I achieved what I did in '08.
For me, there's no words.
You know what I mean?
It was just a great feeling.
Somebody said-- if beat
my chest, like, oh,
might have been disrespecting
other competitors
'cause I was like, I wasn't
even thinking about that.
I was just so happy to
really have done this,
because I've worked so
hard, for so many months,
to get to this one spot.
You know what I mean?
So for me, it was a
great feeling, though.
 And we all--
you know what I'm saying?
We're all island boys
here, West Indians.
How did it feel to have,
like, you know what I mean?
Like going against
like, you know,
the United States and all these
big countries, and everything,
and have, you know, your
island represented like that?
You know, to take home the gold?
 For me, coming through the
ranks, you know what I mean?
I remember, when we actually
got to the Olympics,
they were like, yo, a Jamaican
has never, a Caribbean person,
never won the men's 1000 meters.
You know what I mean?
So me to have gone and done
that, represent the Caribbean,
it's a big deal.
Because Showtime
have always shown
me love, because we have
the Caribbean island.
And even though I'm competing
against, like, their people,
they really still
show me proper love.
You know what I mean?
So for me to go there and do
it for the Caribbean was big.
 What does it feel
like to be-- like
you are an icon in Jamaica.
Like you're up there
with Bob Marley.
You are.
When people think
Jamaica, they think Usain
Bolt. What does that feel like?
 Really, that's crazy.
When I started being
mentioned with Bob Marley--
because anybody
in the Caribbean,
you know Bob Marley--
in the world.
You know what I mean?
So for me, he's an icon for me.
And then people were like, yo,
you're as big as Bob Marley.
When I go to places now,
people are like, yo,
you're from Jamaica, yo.
Usain Bolt and Bob Marley--
you know what I mean?
It's a different feeling.
You know what I mean?
It's just crazy,
and unbelievable
that I'm from the rural
area of the country
and then [SNAP] I
made it to this level.
So I can't even describe it.
It's just a great
feeling, though.
 Got it, B man.
Got it, B. I know
you're big into music.
Did you get a chance to
catch the "Versuz" battle
between Beenie Man and Bounty?
[LAUGHTER]
 Everybody watched that once.
That was-- the whole
world was watching.
 Who won, in you opinion?
 Huh?
 Who won, in your opinion?
 I think Bounty Killer.
I would give it to him
because he has the talk,
you know what I mean?
He really does some things.
So for me, I think
Bounty got the win.
 Nice, nice.
Now I've got to ask
you about your secret
for how fast you are.
Is it a special food?
Is it plantains, is it oxtail?
[LAUGHTER]
- What's the secret?
What secret food do you
eat before every race?
 I remember when I
started out, everybody
was saying it was yam.
Because I had a
lot of yam when I
was younger, because my dad
used to plant yams and stuff, so
I had.
Lot a lot growing up.
So everybody used to say
yam, but for me, I love pork.
You know what I mean?
And curry-- curry
goat, that's my thing.
 Nice, nice.
But wait-- didn't you
grow up not eating pork,
because you were religion?
 No.
My mom-- funny story about that.
So when we started out,
I used to eat pork,
and then my mom got
into the church.
She got baptized,
and she was like, no,
there's no more pork going
to be cooked in this house.
I'll never forget,
like six months later,
when my dad was home and he's
like, yo, to hell with this.
He went out, bought some pork,
but he cooked it outside.
[LAUGHTER]
 He cooked it outside.
He didn't cook it in the
house, he cooked it outside.
And I was laughing.
I was like-- But it was
something that we really love.
My dad really loved pork.
 Yeah.
It's a big Jamaican--
big Jamaican dad
energy, doing that.
[LAUGHTER]
 I love that.
So what else you got
going on, now, man?
 Really, right now,
we're just chilling.
You know what I mean?
All my focus is on my
daughter, right know.
I'm just trying
to keep her safe,
and to make sure
everything goes well.
So that's my main
focus, but I still
do work with a lot of
sponsors and stuff like that.
 How does it feel, too,
like, to be like an ambassador
for like, track?
You know what I mean?
Because it's not like-- you
know, everybody's like, oh,
basketball is cool,
and this and that.
But you made track, like, cool.
 Yeah.
Really.
 You put swag into it.
 For me, people
always say that.
They're like, yo, because of
you I run track and field.
So for me to actually bringing
a lot more attention to track
and field is something good.
You know what I mean?
Because I love the sport.
It's something that I enjoy.
You know what I mean?
So for me to continue to be
an ambassador for the sport
is a big deal for me.
 You know what?
I just bought a motorized
scooter the other day,
and I didn't realize that
you co-founded Bolt Scooters.
 Yeah, yeah, yeah.
[LAUGHTER]
 You are really Jamaican.
You've got so many jobs my guy.
 We're trying to make
moves, trying to make moves.
 Good job to you for
having early vision,
because scooters are
all the rage right now.
You're seeing them everywhere.
What made you get
into it so early?
Like, what made you see it?
 They came-- we came
together and they had an idea,
and they're like, you know what?
Let's just do a scooter.
And I said, yeah.
The way the world is going
right now-- because I travel
everywhere, and you know like
New York, Paris and places
that you go to,
it's nonstop traffic
just to move three blocks.
You know what I mean?
So for me, when they came,
and they said, listen,
this is the future, I was like,
I want to be a part of this.
And that's what
really started it.
They came to me, the
idea, I was like, listen--
I want to be a part of this.
Because I see the need for it,
and that's what we're doing.
 Now you're also,
I heard, you've got
your foot in the producer pot?
Now you're making rhythms?
 You know, it's something
that we've talked about,
so many years ago.
Me and my friend--
my best friend-- we
talked about, yo,
we should make a song.
You know what I mean?
And then I had a
champagne coming out,
and we were like, you know what?
This would be a moment
to put both of them
together, and
actually put it out.
And that's when
we really started.
But it was something that
we always thought about,
so we just made it happen.
You know what i mean.
But it's good.
It's good though-- a good vibe.
 Do your thing, man.
 Get a new joint, you
know what I'm saying?
You've already got the
"run with Red Bull,"
you need something new.
[LAUGHTER]
 Yeah.
 You know what I'm saying?
 We've got to ask you a favor.
Could you come play for
our New York Yankees?
You good at baseball?
 No.
No.
I don't think I would
be good at baseball.
 No?
What about--
 You could pinch run.
 Really?
 Yeah could run--
 You could be a pinch runner.
 All right.
No baseball.
 I've never thought about it.
I've never thought about it.
 What about coming to
play for our Knicks?
 No.
I'm no good at basketball.
I love watching it,
but I'm no good.
 The Knicks aren't good
either, so it would be fine.
[LAUGHTER]
 It would work out.
 It'll work out.
 Is there any other--
because you're a
naturally gifted athlete.
 Soccer.
[INTERPOSING VOICES]
 Soccer.
[INTERPOSING VOICES]
 Yeah.
I tried it, and then
I was getting better.
But it didn't work
out with the coach,
when I went to Australia.
But that's my big enjoyment.
I support Manchester United.
We actually won today,
so I'm in a good mood.
 ManU.
 ManU.
Oh, man.
So if you could give younger
people any word of advice,
something that you learned
and it's taken you far,
what would that advice be?
 For me, it's not to wait.
You know what i mean?
I think if I started working
harder when I was really young,
I would have done a lot more
in track and field, I think.
So grab the opportunity
with both hands,
you know what I mean?
I got lucky that I had the
talent and it didn't go away.
You know what I mean?
But when you get opportunities,
grab it with both hands.
Because it took me
like three, four, years
to really notice that, if I
really train, I would be good.
So grab your opportunity
with both hands
and just work really hard.
 Love it.
That's great advice right there.
Yo, thanks for taking
time to talk to us.
I know you've got the
baby to go take care of.
You're about to
leave this interview
and run over there,
like super fast.
 You know what it is.
 But yo, thanks for being our
nothing but illustrious guest.
You know our guest
always get neon signs.
What would your neon sign say?
 Anything is possible.
Don't take limits.
That's my philosophy.
Don't take limits.
 Anything is possible.
Don't take limits.
Yo, Usain Bolt, to the world.
You know the vibes,
give it up, man.
[SHOUTING]
 Right here, you know it.
You know.
You know the vibe.
You know the vibe.
- Yeah.
[LAUGHTER]
 Thank you.
Thank you.
