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Fourth-Place Medal

Mon Nov 02, 2009 12:20 pm EST

Usain Bolt adopts a cheetah, names him 'Lightning Bolt'

By Chris Chase

The world's fastest man has adopted the world's fastest animal.

As part of an effort to help protect Kenya's endangered species, Usain Bolt formally adopted a three-month old cheetah cub today in Nairobi. (What? You thought the world record holder in both the 100 and 200 meters would own a tortoise?)

Bolt bestowed one of his own nicknames upon the cub, naming him "Lightning Bolt". The three-time Olympic gold medalist paid $13,700 to adopt Lightning Bolt and will contribute $3,000 per year so it can live at an animal orphanage in the Kenyan capital. 

Initially (and understandably), Bolt was reluctant to meet a fully grown cheetah, but he seemed comfortable holding his new cub. At one point he even fed Lightning Bolt milk from a bottle.

Fully grown, Lightning Bolt will likely be able to run 65 mph at top speed, about 40 mph faster than his adopted father Usain. One cheetah at a Cincinnati zoo ran the 100 meters in just over six seconds, about 3.5 seconds faster than Bolt's human world record of 9.58. Some scientists with way too much time on their hands have also tried to apply the physics of a cheetah's running style in order to maximize the ability of human runners.

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139 Comments

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  1. william w
    1. Posted by william w Mon Nov 02, 2009 1:06 pm EST

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    Firstttttttttttttttttt.
  2. Ben Silla
    2. Posted by Ben Silla Mon Nov 02, 2009 1:08 pm EST

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    Which one is the CHeetah again?
  3. headley.todd
    3. Posted by headley.todd Mon Nov 02, 2009 1:08 pm EST

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    thats fresh. wish i had the money to do that. hope he takes good care of it - myspace.com/itsdkp
  4. Brad
    4. Posted by Brad Mon Nov 02, 2009 1:09 pm EST

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    "Some scientists with way too much time on their hands"
    should not be put in this article, but it's good otherwise.
  5. Steven L
    5. Posted by Steven L Mon Nov 02, 2009 1:09 pm EST

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    Good post
  6. ColinD
    6. Posted by ColinD Mon Nov 02, 2009 1:10 pm EST

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    first is gay,
    legit cheetah though.
  7. tedlambert85
    7. Posted by tedlambert85 Mon Nov 02, 2009 1:11 pm EST

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    Who is that old man
  8. drewsdebate@...
    8. Posted by drewsdebate@... Mon Nov 02, 2009 1:12 pm EST

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    second!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  9. Pineapple
    9. Posted by Pineapple Mon Nov 02, 2009 1:12 pm EST

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    He looks so nervous! Its great that he doesn't pull some ridiculous stunt like other athletes do and attempt to train it or something (couldn't you totally imagine Terrell Owens doing that?), instead he is supporting it in an enviroment that the adorable cub can thrive in :)
  10. OwenM
    10. Posted by OwenM Mon Nov 02, 2009 1:13 pm EST

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    second!!!!!! w00t now was the cub actually the cub of the fastest cheetah or just some random cub,,,,,,,, FFIIIRRRSSSTTT to actually post a real comment!!!!!!!!
  11. Packer
    11. Posted by Packer Mon Nov 02, 2009 1:13 pm EST

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    I wish I could adopt one.
  12. Don G
    12. Posted by Don G Mon Nov 02, 2009 1:13 pm EST

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    Sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
  13. Bradley A
    13. Posted by Bradley A Mon Nov 02, 2009 1:13 pm EST

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    Very cool, though it would have been more ironic to see him adopt a sea turtle.....
    myspace.com/bradleyard
  14. Michael
    14. Posted by Michael Mon Nov 02, 2009 1:14 pm EST

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    What a class act!! I wish he I could meet him!! This just shows, not all black athletes are self centered!! Plus I bet he gets Michael Phelps the best Weed in Jamaica!! woohoo!! Good Job Usain!!
  15. $**UNO**$
    15. Posted by $**UNO**$ Mon Nov 02, 2009 1:14 pm EST

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    lol
  16. Naketta W
    16. Posted by Naketta W Mon Nov 02, 2009 1:14 pm EST

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    Hey, Ben Silla, IT"S THE CAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Now Stop Being Silly !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  17. Will
    17. Posted by Will Mon Nov 02, 2009 1:15 pm EST

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    That dude just has INSANE speed, he is very entertaining to watch
  18. Christopher
    18. Posted by Christopher Mon Nov 02, 2009 1:15 pm EST

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    Fastest LAND animal, not the world's fastest animal. That title belongs to the Peregrin Falcon.
  19. Robert J
    19. Posted by Robert J Mon Nov 02, 2009 1:17 pm EST

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    Be sweet if he could take it home - have it walkin' around the house when neighbors/friends come over...
  20. Jason D
    20. Posted by Jason D Mon Nov 02, 2009 1:17 pm EST

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    Where can I buy a Cheetah for over 13 grand?
  21. Matt
    21. Posted by Matt Mon Nov 02, 2009 1:17 pm EST

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    He's not going to be taking care of the Cheetah himself, if you read the whole article it says that he makes the financial contributions to the cub and that it will live in an animal orphanage in Kenya. Preserving endangered species sure isn't cheap though!
  22. PGLea
    22. Posted by PGLea Mon Nov 02, 2009 1:17 pm EST

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    hahaha "Some scientists with way too much time on their hands have also tried to apply the physics of a cheetah's running style in order to maximize the ability of human runners."
  23. Matthew N
    23. Posted by Matthew N Mon Nov 02, 2009 1:20 pm EST

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    beast
  24. Matthew N
    24. Posted by Matthew N Mon Nov 02, 2009 1:20 pm EST

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    beast
  25. demondreams74
    25. Posted by demondreams74 Mon Nov 02, 2009 1:24 pm EST

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    the scientists are trying to apply the physics to see what makes a cheetah fast is because humans have two legs and cheethas have four they have more accelaration when the first two start the othere two in the back boost together. thank you. im not a scientist but come on people. go bolt.

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