'Relax!' Usain Bolt tells Swiss managers

The world record-holding sprinter, Usain Bolt, told an audience of executives from companies based in the Léman region, that relaxation is the most important part of his pre-race routine.

He was speaking for the second time in as many years at the IMD business school in Lausanne to some 250 business people representing a range of industries including fund management, tobacco and accounting.

"When I go out here all I’ve got to do is execute what my coach says," said Bolt. "You should just relax and let it flow," he said.

The 23-year-old Jamaican already holds three Olympic gold medals from the Beijing 2008 games; he became world champion at the same events in Berlin last year and is the world record holder in the 100 and 200 metres and 4x100 metre relay.

While some sprinters adopt a serious inward-looking attitude before a race, Bolt likes to have fun and muck about with the cameras, even during a major final.

Combining a love of life with a sense of responsibility would benefit many people in Swiss corporate life, according to IMD Professor John Weeks, speaking to Swisster after the event.

Although "sometimes you have too many big kids in the room" in Swiss finance, said Weeks.

Bolt’s warm and fun-loving persona appealed to delegates at the business school event.

"He’s self confident but humble as well," said Hector Reguera, one of a group of financial analysts from Proctor & Gamble in Geneva who attended Bolt’s talk to gain ideas and inspiration.

Successful people at work can be opinionated, said Reguera, who thinks executives would do well to replicate Bolt’s attitude.

Many other top runners are steely-eyed and focused when eyeing up the track in front of them whilst Bolt is cavorting around and grinning.

"He’s changed the whole culture of sprinting," said the sprinter’s Irish agent, Ricky Sims, sitting beside the legend on a stage facing star-struck office workers.

A sense of fun, coupled with a level-headedness in interviews, has eluded many Olympic sprinters who adopt a better-than-the-rest attitude.

Sport psychologist Mattia Piffaretti also identifies mental strength and a sense of purpose as key attributes.

"If you’re not mentally strong he (the opponent) may just throw you off your best . . . then the 11 months of training just goes down the drain," said Bolt.

Since his early forays into international athletics aged 15, the 2002 World Junior Championships gold medallist has faced a number of setbacks.

As a teenager "his technique wasn’t great," said Sims, recalling time spent ferrying the injury-prone Bolt around to different doctors.

The Jamaican became an injury prone underachiever, according to Weeks, who teaches at IMD.

But setbacks can make a person stronger. Learning how to lose races before learning how to win them is the priority for many, according to Weeks.

"The fun-loving Bolt also selected a trainer renowned as a strict disciplinarian," said the academic in an article that gleans tips from Bolt on how to translate potential into achievement.

The sprinter carefully selected Glen Mills to "keep him honest," said Weeks.

"Finding the right coach or mentor is critical for anyone who wants to improve," he added.

Not everybody has the luxury of picking their manager at work. Although Weeks told Swisster the coach is not necessarily the person your employer selects for you.

"It could even be an executive coach you are hiring for the purpose," he said.

Google CEO Eric Schmidt said a recommendation to "hire a coach" was the best piece of advice he ever received.

Bolt is now focusing on Thursday’s Athletissma race meet in Switzerland.

"I love Lausanne," said Bolt, who prefers to run the 200 metres at the Vaud stadium, but has switched to the 100 metres for the meet at the Pontaise Stadium.

Beyond immediate concerns he already has a career mapped out.

An early sporting idol, Michael Johnson, once told him that a point would come when he realised he had won everything and broken every record and it was time to retire.

Bolt aims to compete at two more Olympic games before leaving competition.

One delegate asked who might play the athlete in a future movie about his life. "I don’t think there’s anybody fast enough to play me," said the smiling sprinter.