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Why are Dutch Olympic speed skaters striking Usain Bolt’s pose?

Why are speed skaters rocking the Bolt pose on the medal podium at the Winter Olympics?

Usain Bolt Pose

It appears Dutch athletes are fans of Usain Bolt.

A number of speed skaters from the Netherlands celebrated on the podium by striking Bolt’s famous lightning pose in which he bends one arm and extends the other towards the sky. The tributes are from the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea.

Ireen Wüst won her fifth Olympic gold medal on Tuesday and struck the Bolt pose. Sven Kramer, who even got a Twitter shoutout from the eight-time Olympic sprint champion, won the men’s 5,000m in long track speed skating, and also posed as Bolt famously did at past Summer Olympics. Patrick Roest, the silver medallist in the men’s 5,000m, joined in on the podium fun. For good measure, Kjeld Nuis ‘bolted’ too.

Embed from Getty Images

Bolt won gold medals in both the 100m and 200m at the three successive Summer Games including the 2008, 2012 and 2016 Olympics, cementing his legacy as one of the greatest athletes of all-time. He holds the world record in both the events and retired following the 2017 IAAF World Championships in London.

Prior to the start of the Winter Olympics, Bolt posted on Twitter encouraging athletes to celebrate his “way,” adding that those who do so, will receive a gift. “Hey winter athletes, the big moment is now very close,” he wrote. “I dare you to celebrate your next victory my way. Post it, tag me and I will send you a great gift, where allowed of course.” The gift appears to be a bottle of champagne from G.H. Mumm et Cie.

So, it seems Dutch speed skaters are looking for gifts from Bolt.

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