Is Bolt now greatest-ever athlete?

Jamaica's Usain Bolt (L) sprints to win the men's 200 metres semi-final. Source: AFP

ANOTHER major championships. Another amazing Usain Bolt performance. Another body of evidence.

Is it now time to declare the Jamaican superstar the greatest sports person of this generation?

And while we're at it, how close is he to sporting immortality?

Bolt's work in Moscow confirmed his greatness in a sport that is under siege. He once again shone at a world championships that was desperately needing a saviour following recent drug scandals.

There is no debate about him being the greatest track and field athlete of all-time.

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Bolt has six Olympic gold medals and six world titles with a couple more to be added before his time is finished in Russia.

He owns the 100m and 200m world records and has only ever lost one global 100m title and that was only through his false start disqualification at the Daegu world championships two years ago.

His record is a thing of wonder. In the past four years, only four men have ever beaten him in 39 100m finals all over the world.

That quartet of Yohan Blake, Tyson Gay, Asafa Powell and Justin Gatlin have all failed drugs tests. Nobody with a clean record has done it.

Putting Bolt at the top of the tree means he goes past some legends of the sport such as Jesse Owens, Michael Johnson, Sergey Bubka and Carl Lewis.

But it's not just his deeds on the track which sets him apart.

Bolt is not only universally admired but loved. In an era where many sports stars are renowned for their diva qualities, the laid back Jamaican is respectful of his sport, his opponents, his fans and never forgets where he comes from.

"I know a lot of kids look up to me. When I came home from Jamaica even the girls were saying, 'I want to be the next Usain Bolt'," he said recently.

"I know I inspire a lot of kids. I always encourage them to work hard. I get a lot of messages on Facebook from kids who ask me about coaching.

"I try to give them inspiring messages. I push myself hard because I know they want to see me run fast and do good. There will be rough times. It's all about how you focus and how much you want it."

So who are Bolt's rivals in the modern era?

In tennis Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams have been dominate. Tiger Woods before his scandal was widely regarded as the best ever while Kelly Slater has taken surfing to another level as did Michael Phelps in the pool.

After his victory at last year's London Olympics, Bolt moved his sights to the immortals he admired - Muhammad Ali, Pele and Michael Jordan.

There are others worthy of being in that discussion such as Don Bradman, Babe Ruth, Rod Laver and Wayne Gretzky.

"I can't say if I have the status of Ali or Pele. I've really set myself high in track and field," he said.

"Michael Jordan was the greatest in his sport and I'm the greatest in mine. Ali was the greatest in his. I'm guessing I am in that category but I'll let other people decide that. I just know I'm a legend."

Bolt, who turns 27 on Wednesday, has his eyes set on defending his titles at the 2016 Rio Olympics. If he does that, there will be no further debate. Immortality awaits.