Usain Bolt: from Beijing to London in pictures

Usain Bolt celebrates as he approaches the line on his way to winning gold in the 100m final at the Beijing Games in 2008. Bolt clocked a new world record time of 9.69sec Photograph: Vladimir Rys/Bongarts/Getty Images

Bolt carries his gold running shoes after winning the 100m at the Bird's Nest Stadium Photograph: Dan Chung for the Guardian

Bolt followed that up with victory in the 200m, again setting a new world record in the process Photograph: Dan Chung for the Guardian

Bolt celebrates his new world record time of 19.30sec Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

Bolt celebrates with fans after winning the men's 100m at the Golden League meeting at the Stade de France in 2009 Photograph: Lionel Cironneau/AP

Bolt signs autographs after winning the 100m at the Golden Gala in Rome in 2009 Photograph: Alessandro Bianchi/Reuters

Bolt powers to victory in the men's 200m at the 2009 world championships in Berlin, breaking his own world record with a time of 19.19sec Photograph: Adrian Dennis/AFP/Getty Images

Bolt points skywards after his 200m victory in Berlin Photograph: Franck Fife/AFP/Getty Images

Two years later the world championships in Daegu were not quite such a happy hunting ground. In the 100m he was disqualified from the final after a false start Photograph: Alexander Hassenstein/Bongarts/Getty Images

But there was victory again in the 200m, with Bolt striking his trademark pose after the win Photograph: Olivier Morin/AFP/Getty Images

Bolt asserts his authority in the 100m at the Diamond League meeting in Rome in May 2012 Photograph: AFP/AFP/Getty Images

But Bolt was beaten by his compatriot Yohan Blake in both the 100m and 200m at the Jamaican trials for the London 2012 squad Photograph: Gilbert Bellamy/Reuters

Usain Bolt poses with his running spikes and official team uniform for the London 2012 Opening Ceremony Photograph: Dylan Martinez/Reuters