Usain Bolt

KINGSTON, Jamaica (CMC):

Usain Bolt's rise to athletics glory will literally soon be an open book.

The champion Jamaican sprinter has signed a two-book deal with HarperSport, a subsidiary of the British book publishing giant HarperCollins.

"I'm delighted to be publishing my two books with the guys at HarperCollins and I'm determined to give my fans all over the world a great insight into me and my life," said Bolt.

The first book will be an illustrated narrative celebration of Bolt's remarkable career and his Caribbean roots, and an insight into what inspires and motivates him.

The second book will be a full-length autobiography, and is to be published in the autumn of 2012, shortly after London's Olympic Games.

"This is a huge thrill and a real privilege," said Publishing Director of Harper Non-Fiction Jonathan Taylor.

"He is the most iconic sports star on the planet and our global publishing plans for him are exciting and extensive."

The 23-year-old Bolt is currently the fastest man on Earth. He followed his magnificent Olympic year performance with an equally spectacular 2009.

GREAT PERFORMANCES

At the World Championships in Berlin, Bolt won 100 metres, 200 metres, and 4x100 metres relay gold medals, just as he had done in Beijing 12 months earlier.

In the 100 metres, Bolt improved his world record with a time of 9.58 seconds, taking over a tenth of a second off the previous record, the biggest-ever margin of improvement since the introduction of electronic timing.

He added the 200-metre gold medal in Berlin in a new world record time of 19.19 seconds, breaking his own record by 0.11 seconds.

He was also a member of the Jamaican team that won the 4x100 metres relay gold medal. Bolt won the 2009 Male Athlete-of-the-Year Award after his performance in Berlin, and he is now a raging hot favourite for the World Sportsman-of-the-Year award.