Janet Silvera, Senior Gleaner Writer

Usain Bolt celebrates with his mother, Jennifer Bolt (left), and girlfriend Mizicann Evans after winning the 200m at the Beijing Olympics yesterday. - photo by Charles Pitt

WESTERN BUREAU:

She is a mathematics, physics and chemistry major and has unofficially earned a degree in the art of crafting the key to the heart of the world's fastest man: Usain Bolt.

Nineteen-year-old Mizicann Evans, a student at the University College of the Caribbean (UCC), has been dating the Trelawny-born athlete for the past six years, and is quick to point out, "We were friends long before our relationship blossomed and we are best friends now."

Speaking with The Gleaner from Beijing, China, yesterday, where she has spent her time by the side of Usain's mother, Jennifer Bolt, Evans reminisced about their first meeting at a food court in Kingston when she was 14 years old and Usain was a lanky 16-year-old.

The sparks didn't fly until months later when they met again at an athletics meet at the National Stadium.

"His winning personality attracted me to him," she said.

Evans, not a track star herself, said she was actively involved in netball at her alma mater, Merl Grove High School, but like most young Jamaicans, did not miss the athletic meets at the stadium.

But how does it feel to be with the man called 'Lightning Bolt', the man bombarded by more than 3,000 journalists after an astounding 19.30 seconds in the 200-metre sprint in Beijing yesterday?

Same Usain

"It feels great, but he is still the same Usain Bolt, with or without a national or world record." For Mizicann, her heartthrob is a natural jovial and unpretentious person.

"The same way you see him behaving on the track is exactly how he is. Always happy, always wanting to make everybody around him laugh."

janet.silvera@gleanerjm.com