Usain Bolt describes Ireland as a "cold Jamaica"

Bolt, a world recorder holder in the 100 meters, 200 meters, and 4x100-meter relays, also spoke about his love of Guinness in a recent conversation with Irish director Frank Mannion, whose new film "Quintessentially Irish" explores what it means to be Irish. 

Mannion told the Sunday Times that he met Bolt through the sprinter's agent Ricky Simms, who comes from Donegal. 

"Thanks to his Irish sports agent, Ricky Simms from Co Donegal, I got to hang out with the world's fastest man, Usain Bolt, who is a big fan of Guinness," Mannion told the Sunday Times. 

"The Jamaican sprinter is well aware of the close historical links between our countries. He knew that many places in his home island, such as Kildare, Sligoville, and Ulster Spring, owe their names to Irish immigrants," Mannion added. 

Around one-quarter of Jamaicans claim Irish ancestry, making it the second-largest reported ethnic group in Jamaica. 

Mannion said Bolt described Ireland as a "cold Jamaica" and Jamaica as a "hot Ireland", adding that the sprinter gave him a pair of his Puma running spikes at the end of the meeting. 

Mannion also discussed the impact that Simms has had on Bolt's career. 

"Ricky Simms is a proud Donegal man and it was a privilege to spend time in his company and hear about his remarkable career," Mannion said, 

"Ricky was the King of the 2012 London Olympics, as he was the agent for its two Gold medal-winning super-stars, Mo Farah and Usain Bolt. Ricky orchestrated the most iconic photo of those Olympic Games with Usain doing the Mobot and Mo Farah doing Bolt's Lightning Bolt celebration.

"We spent time filming Ricky and Usain Bolt at a Puma event in Las Vegas and Usain was fulsome in his praise for Ricky, crediting him with all the positive things that have happened in his career." 

Mannion's documentary, which was released at the end of April, is a journey through Ireland's cultural heritage, exploring the origins of whiskey production, the world-famous Guinness brewery, age-old equestrian pursuits, and traditional Gaelic athletics, 

The film which Mannion describes as his "love letter to Ireland, also features an interview with US President Joe Biden.

"During his visit to Dublin, I managed to talk to Biden about the little-known story of how he and his predecessor Barack Obama are both descended from Irish shoemakers who emigrated from the same Irish port five weeks apart in the 1840s," Mannion said.