Sister’s death led to Juliet’s golden moment with Usain

She was the envy of millions when sports superstar Usain Bolt fist-bumped her at Hampden on Friday.

And now aptly-named Juliet Gold has revealed to The Sunday Post how the tragic death of her older sister helped carry her to her golden moment with the world’s fastest man.

The 18-year-old from Kirkintilloch was in charge of carrying the Jamaican sprinter’s tracksuit after he readied himself for the men’s 4×100 metre relay semi-final.

But for Juliet, the thrill of the moment was tinged with emotion, as she credits her sister Emily-Jane who died aged 16 from bone cancer with setting her on the right path in life a path that led to meeting her hero in a packed Hampden Park.

Juliet said: “Emily-Jane died when I was 11. Looking back, at that point I could have gone down one of two lanes the troublesome route or doing something productive.

“I’d always done athletics but at that point I really threw myself into it. I feel that decision made me the person I am today and without it Friday night would never have happened.”

A 200 metre sprinter herself, Juliet’s been on cloud nine all week as she’s rubbed shoulders with the world’s top athletes, transporting their kit around the national stadium.

However, it was Friday’s meeting with Bolt that sent her into dreamland as he chose her to be his right-hand girl.

Juliet said: “There are a number of us so we knew that we’d all be doing the relay, but it was only minutes before heading out that six of us were told we’d be carrying for Usain Bolt’s leg of the race.

“Everyone was buzzing but we all agreed that we wouldn’t fight over him we’d leave it to the luck of the draw. When he realised none of us were specifically assigned to him, he asked which of our boxes he should use.

“Everyone was in such awe of him that we couldn’t speak! When he chose me my heart started racing. I couldn’t believe it I just kept saying to myself ‘Oh my goodness! Oh my goodness!’, and I couldn’t stop smiling.”

The star shared a joke with Juliet as he asked her to hold his leg number tags insisting she didn’t make off with them.

She said: “His banter was brilliant. He was really funny so I started laughing that’s when the cameras picked me up!

“He went off for a warm-up run then came back for the race. That’s when he put his fist out. It was the best moment of my life. Only some people get the fist-bump from Bolt I’m one of a lucky few.

“He’s such a huge hero of mine so it was easily one of the very best moments of my life.

“I walked off and everyone was cheering me on. As soon as I got out of sight I started screaming I was on top of the world, it was the best feeling!”

The Commonwealth Games have proven to be sensational for the Kirkintilloch teen, as her date with Bolt came just weeks after she paraded the Queen’s Baton through her hometown.

Juliet believes that she was nominated for the prestigious role after battling back from the tragic loss of Emily-Jane seven years ago.

The amateur runner is convinced that the fight Emily-Jane showed during her illness is what inspired her to chase her own dreams.