Animesh Kujur, India's Sprint Sensation, Gets Tips From Legend Usain Bolt in Mumbai

India's fastest man Animesh Kujur met his hero Usain Bolt — the world's fastest man — in a Puma collaboration in Mumbai. Kujur, who has had a breakthrough season this year, asked Bolt about running techniques and tips that could help him run faster.

Animesh worships Bolt as his hero. The 100m and 200m sprinter loves to hit the legendary Jamaican’s signature celebration whenever he wins a competition. The runner from Odisha was in sensational form this season, breaking the national records in both the 100m and 200m sprints. Due to his consistent performances, he qualified for the World Athletics Championships 2025 in Tokyo. He ran in the 200m sprint heats — the first time ever by an Indian.

Animesh talked to Bolt about his running technique, and the fastest man in the world suggested a few corrections. Bolt told him to fling his arms back and forth instead of taking them across his body, and asked Kujur to lock his right arm better while sprinting.

"The arms should not go across your body, they should go back and forth. I have seen you run. You lock the left and then you release the right — both of them should be locked," Bolt told Kujur.

Animesh Kujur is known for his devastating top-end speed. He and three other Indian sprinters are leading India’s running revolution. The Indian sprint quartet — Animesh, Manikanta Hoblidhar, Gurindervir Singh, and Amlan Borgohain — are expected to do well in the Asian Games 2026. If they can match their best performance, it is highly likely that they will be able to claim India’s first gold medal in the 4x100m men’s relay.

Animesh has earned high praise from former Indian athletes as well. Former sprinter and World Athletics body’s vice president Adille Sumariwalla recently had called Animesh the greatest Indian sprinter ever.

“As a sprinter myself, I can tell you he’s the best sprinter India has ever produced — by far. We always said we’re looking for a six-foot sprinter. We found one. He’s got great acceleration,” Sumariwalla, who has also been the Athletics Federation of India president in the past, told India Today.

Sumariwalla has also backed Kujur to break the 10-second barrier (100m) in the future.