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Usain Bolt has admitted at how he seriously wanted to return to track and field two years after retirement, explaining what he wanted to correct at the time.
Jamaican sprint legend Usain Bolt has admitted he seriously contemplated unretiring from the sport after noting that Jamaica was no longer dominant in men’s sprinting following his retirement in 2017.
The nation, once dominant in global sprinting thanks to Bolt’s record-breaking performances, took seven years to clinch a medal in men’s sprints at the international level.
It wasn’t until Ackeem Blake’s bronze in the 60 meters at the 2024 World Indoor Championships in Glasgow and Kishane Thompson’s silver at the 2024 Paris Olympics that Jamaica saw a return to the podium in men’s events.
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18:00 - 08.11.2024
'He made me eat cleaner & work harder' - Justin Gatlin on how Usain Bolt shaped him into becoming a better sprinter
Justin Gatlin has heaped praise on his long-time arch-nemesis Usain Bolt, thanking him for making him the athlete he ended up becoming after returning to the sport.
Reflecting on this period, Bolt admitted on the High Performance Podcast that witnessing Jamaica’s absence in the medals spurred a strong desire to step back onto the track.
"Mentally, I was ready to go," Bolt shared. "After you retire and start watching the sport, that is when it becomes hard. I saw so many athletes try to rekindle their greatness after retirement."
In 2019, this drive became so compelling that he reached out to his former coach, Glen Mills, with the idea of training again. However, Mills dissuaded him, firmly telling Bolt, “When you retire, that is it. We are not going to do any comebacks.”
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20:42 - 29.10.2024
'I did it for myself first' - Usain Bolt agrees with Asafa Powell's advice to Kishane Thompson on the 'demanding' nature of Jamaican fans
Usain Bolt has agreed with Asafa Powell on the nature of Jamaican fans after the latter recently offered advice to Kishane Thompson on why he should not feel oblidged to carry the country his t back.
Bolt reflected on the difficulty of remaining retired, especially as Jamaica’s male athletes were no longer dominating.
"It was painful to sit and watch, especially because the male athletes weren’t dominating for Jamaica, and I was itching to go back and perform for my country," he admitted.
Despite occasional visits to the track where he would lace up his spikes and even join workouts, Mills remained steadfast in his stance.
"He told me, ‘I am not going to allow you to come back because the drive you had when you were aiming towards your goal is not the same one you have come back into the sport with, and that would be a problem.’”
After deciding against a comeback, Bolt briefly pursued a career in football, even training with clubs like Borussia Dortmund. While football didn’t pan out as planned, Bolt has since channeled his focus into the music industry, establishing himself as a music producer.
Through it all, Bolt’s journey is a testament to the challenges athletes face in stepping away from the spotlight and the enduring connection they feel towards the sport that defined them
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