Lorna Thorpe is widely credited as the inspiration for the “lightning behind the Bolt”
“The first day I saw Usain run I knew he was something very special,” Lorna says. “In the past few days, 
when we have spoken on the phone, I have reminded him of that.
“I’ve told him to remember his raw, unique talent, to stay focused and be confident. We talk after races and I hope tonight I will be congratulating him on becoming the greatest sprinter ever.”
It’s nine years since Usain, 25, left school, but he still shares a close bond with Lorna. “She made sure I remained focused. I owe her so much,” the star has said.
Their bond was forged when he started aged 12 at William Knibb Memorial High School in Kingston.
Lorna also coached former 100m world champion Michael Green. But Lorna says it was clear from day one Usain would be her greatest protege. “We were like mother and son. He had a God-given gift – speed. You can’t teach that. All you can do is nurture it and encourage him to practise.”
But that wasn’t easy, with Bolt at first more interested in cricket. “I had to get him away from that,” she laughs. “I noticed he needed proper running shoes so I got them for him.”
Lorna was at Bolt’s side as he blitzed the national trials. And when he left school at 16 the pair kept in touch.
They still talk every week on the phone and she is best friends with five-time world champion Usain’s parents, Wellesley and Jennifer, who will be trackside tonight.
Bolt calls her “his second mother” and says: “She looked out for me fully. She made sure I was always in class. She made sure I always remained focused.”
Bolt’s journey to the Olympic heights began at William Knibb High School in Falmouth, Jamaica, in 1987.
Miss Thorpe taught Bolt at the time he decided to give up cricket and football in favour of athletics.
She recalls: “From day one, he always ran at the head of the pack and you could see he was enjoying it. When you saw his strides, you realised he was somebody special.”
And she is still inspiring a generation of young people today.
Lessons may be over, but for the school’s athletes the hard work is just beginning.
At 4pm every day, they head out onto the playing field to begin a rigorous schedule of stretches and sprints. All under the watchful eye of Miss Thorpe.
Miss Thorpe has her work cut out. She is preparing these youngsters to take part in what could be the biggest event of their lives: Boys and Girls Champs.
Every year up to 30,000 spectators pack into Kingston’s national stadium to watch high school students compete. Up to 100 schools take part and competition is tough.
On the final day you can cut the atmosphere with a knife. Failing for these children is not an option. For them, it is the winning rather than the taking part that counts.
Some say it is this rigorous training and “can do” mental attitude which contributes to making Jamaicans some of the best sprinters in the world.
And it was here, in this stadium that Usain Bolt got his lucky break when he was spotted by talent scouts.
Fittingly, just in time for the 100m final, Bolt makes an impromptu appearance to cheer on the young athletes.
When he enters the stadium, the already electric atmosphere turns to fever pitch and the crowd goes wild. It’s obvious to see (and hear!) the positive impact Bolt has on these children’s lives.
He says: “The kids work so hard to be the best at Champs. It means so much to them. When I was growing up, winning a gold medal at Champs was like winning a World Championship gold medal.
“There’s a lot of talent coming up. But I keep telling these kids, you’re not going to catch me!”
Despite being a world phenomenon, Bolt does not forget where it all began for him, back at school in Miss Thorpe’s PE lessons. But what was the man really like at school?
“Usain was just Usain. He could not keep still. Energetic. He was always on the move. He was a joker outside the track, but on the track it was down to business.
“We are very proud that he came here, that we were able to work with him and encourage him to accomplish his goals.”
