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Usain Bolt is a Jamaican sprinter, an eight-time Olympic champion and the world record holder in the 100 metres and 200 metres. [8] His link to poker is a sponsorship: in June 2017 PokerStars signed him as a brand ambassador, gave him the first celebrity-branded tables in its history and paired him with Kevin Hart in a poker-themed rivalry called #GameOn. [1][4][3] He is not a tournament player, and no live tournament results are recorded for him in the poker sources checked for this page.
Usain Bolt: key facts
| Name | Usain Bolt |
|---|---|
| Born | August 21, 1986 (age 40) [8] |
| Country | Jamaica [8] |
| Known for | Sprinting: 8 Olympic titles, 11 world titles [8] |
| World records | 100 m in 9.58 and 200 m in 19.19, both in August 2009 [8] |
| Poker role | PokerStars brand ambassador, signed June 2017 [1] |
| Poker campaigns | Zoom Usain Bolt Edition (2017); #GameOn with Kevin Hart (2017 to 2018) [4][3][7] |
| Live tournament earnings | None recorded as of October 10, 2026 |
The sprinting career
Bolt was born on August 21, 1986, and represented Jamaica. World Athletics lists him as an eight-time Olympic champion, an 11-time world champion and a three-time Diamond League Final winner. [8] He still holds two individual world records, both set in August 2009: 9.58 seconds in the 100 metres on August 16 and 19.19 seconds in the 200 metres on August 20. He was also part of the Jamaican 4×100 metres relay that ran 36.84 on August 11, 2012. [8] His farewell race came at the 2017 World Championships, where he took bronze, shortly before his first poker promotion went live. [4]
Joining Team PokerStars
PokerStars announced Bolt as a sponsored player on June 8, 2017. Under the deal he would appear in PokerStars marketing campaigns and at live events meant to bring poker to new audiences. He followed Kevin Hart onto the team, and the site had earlier sponsored athletes such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar Jr and Rafael Nadal. [1]
Bolt explained the move to Card Player: “PokerStars is a winner and I’m happy to join Kevin in helping to bring poker and PokerStars to the masses.” He described poker as “a challenging game that’s fun, social and competitive.” [1] On Twitter he aimed the announcement straight at Hart: “I’m all in @PokerStars. Watch your back @KevinHart4real”. Eric Hollreiser of PokerStars called him “a fierce competitor.” [2]
Zoom Usain Bolt Edition
In August 2017 PokerStars launched the Zoom Usain Bolt Edition, which PokerNews reported as the first celebrity-branded tables in PokerStars history. They were standard tables of Zoom, the site’s fast-fold format, linked to a promotion that ran until September 24 with up to $15,000 to win. Weekend “Road to Glory” challenges paid up to $5,000, and completing the weekday challenges could triple those rewards. PokerStars also ran $1,500 Zoom freerolls three times a day through October 16. [4] Bolt said: “I’m very excited to bring my special edition of Zoom to my fans and poker players around the globe.” [4]
#GameOn: Bolt against Kevin Hart
On June 30, 2017, PokerStars launched #GameOn, a social media contest between Bolt and Hart built around poker skills: reading people, bluffing and risk management. Fans decided each round through the stars’ social media numbers, and the plan was for the rivalry to end in a live poker match at the PokerStars Championship Bahamas in January 2018. PokerStars traced the rivalry back four years, to an NBA All-Star Celebrity Game where Bolt raced Hart on a basketball court. Vadim Soloveychik, PokerStars’ Director of Poker Marketing, summed it up as “the fast vs the funny.” [3]
One episode was an ice-bath challenge: both men sat in tubs of ice water and tried to keep a straight face, with Team PokerStars pro Daniel Negreanu as referee. The scores from these challenges were to decide their starting stacks for a heads-up match at the 2018 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure. Bolt’s message to Hart: “Kevin may be the funniest, but jokes are not going to get him anywhere against me at the poker table.” [6]
Bolt was in the Bahamas for the 2018 PCA. On January 6, 2018, during Day 1 of the $100,000 Super High Roller, PokerNews reported that he walked over to check on Hart, who was struggling in the event, and greeted him with: “I heard somebody’s losing!” [5]
PokerStars released the finale of the series on February 7, 2018, as a set of videos: a 100-metre sprint followed by a heads-up poker match, with Negreanu commentating. Before the match Bolt promised that “the little funny man won’t be laughing much longer when I take all his chips at the poker table.” [7] The press release did not name a winner, and this page leaves the result out because it could not be confirmed in a reliable source.
Tournament results and charity poker
Bolt’s poker story is a sponsorship story. PokerNews has no player profile for him, and no live tournament cashes or charity poker events involving him were found in PokerNews, Card Player or official tour coverage as of October 10, 2026.
FAQ about Usain Bolt
Does Usain Bolt play poker?
He took part in poker as a PokerStars ambassador from 2017, including the #GameOn series with Kevin Hart, which finished with a heads-up poker match. He has no recorded tournament results. [1][7]
When did Usain Bolt join PokerStars?
PokerStars announced him as a sponsored player on June 8, 2017. [1][2]
What was the Zoom Usain Bolt Edition?
A PokerStars promotion from August 2017: Zoom tables branded with his name, linked to challenges worth up to $15,000. PokerNews described them as the first celebrity-branded tables in PokerStars history. [4]
What was #GameOn between Usain Bolt and Kevin Hart?
A PokerStars social media series launched on June 30, 2017, in which the two competed in poker-themed challenges. The finale, released on February 7, 2018, was a 100-metre sprint and a heads-up poker match. [3][7]
What is Usain Bolt’s net worth?
There is no reliable public figure for his net worth. On the poker side there is nothing to add: no live tournament earnings are recorded for him as of October 10, 2026, and the value of his PokerStars deal was not published.
How many Olympic gold medals does Usain Bolt have?
World Athletics lists him as an eight-time Olympic champion. [8]
Related profiles
Read more about Kevin Hart, his #GameOn rival, and about Daniel Negreanu, who refereed and commentated the series.
Sources
- Card Player, Usain Bolt: Poker Is ‘Fun, Social And Competitive’, June 9, 2017.
- PokerListings, Usain Bolt Signs with PokerStars, Has Message for Kevin Hart, accessed October 10, 2026.
- PokerStars via CNW, Usain Bolt and Kevin Hart Launch a Battle of Wits With PokerStars #GameOn Challenge, June 30, 2017.
- PokerNews, Usain Bolt Teams With PokerStars for Special Zoom Poker Promotion, August 14, 2017.
- PokerNews, Celebrity Railbirds for Kevin Hart (2018 PCA $100,000 Super High Roller live updates), January 6, 2018.
- PokerListings, Too Hot in the Ice Tub! Bolt v. Hart Gets Cold Blooded, accessed October 10, 2026.
- PokerStars via CNW, Kevin Hart and Usain Bolt Battle it out in Pokerstars #GameOn Finale, February 7, 2018.
- World Athletics, Usain Bolt athlete profile, accessed October 10, 2026.
Last verified: October 10, 2026. Figures that change over time are given with the date they were checked.
