Christian Coleman (second L) left Usain Bolt stunned in 2017
Usain Bolt has opened up on how Christian Coleman left him stunned in 2017.
Legendary former Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt has opened up on how stunned he was by Christian Coleman during the 2017 World Athletics Championship.
Coleman, who competes in the 60, 100, and 200 meters, has firmly established himself as a top contender in the sprinting world.
The 2019 World Champion in the 100 meters and part of the gold-winning 4×100-meter relay team, he holds a personal best of 9.76 seconds for the 100 meters, placing him as the sixth-fastest man of all time.
Athing Mu Net Worth: Age, Profile, Career, Achievements, Husband, How Rich She Is in 2025?
Athing Mu Net Worth: Age, Profile, Career, Achievements, Husband, How Rich She Is in 2025?
Many nowadays recognize him as Sha’Carri Richardson’s boyfriend, forgetting that he is actually one of the fastest men to have ever existed, to the extent he once left Bolt stunned during his last-ever major athletics championship campaign before retirement.
This victory positioned Coleman as the first sprinter in four years to beat Bolt in any competition, setting the stage for his rise on the world stage.
He finished second in the 100-meter final with a time of 9.94 seconds, coming in just behind Justin Gatlin following a photo finish and narrowly ahead of Bolt, who was retiring from competitive track and field.
Victor Wanyama hints at where he wants to play next as he weighs several offers
Victor Wanyama hints at where he wants to play next as he weighs several offers
Many had thought Coleman was the one who ended up beating both legends, which would have been against the script, only for Gatlin, who was way over in lane nine, to emerge victorious, much to the disgust of the spectators, who booed him.
However, Bolt was a happy man – a relieved one in fact – after finding out that Coleman had not won the race.
Speaking as a guest on Justin Gatlin’s Ready Set Go podcast co-hosted by Rodney Greene, Bolt explained why he was unusually happy to have taken defeat on the chin in his last ever 100m dash,
“I was happy because to let the young cat win, ‘oh man’,” Bolt said.
“He was just out of college. I hugged Justin and told him ‘I am so happy you won bro, I would not have imagined this kid winning’”
Bolt was stunned by Christian Coleman’s electric start – which has become a trademark with his running – that left him forced to chase him down during both races.
“Remember that he (Gatlin) is good at starts, and Coleman is way better than him. That guy’s start is ridiculous.When we started he was like five meters ahead of me before we even got up.
“Mental strength is what I had. But when I ran against him, I was like ‘God damn this kid is quick!’”
Bolt’s happiness for Gatlin was more about finding out that Coleman had not emerged victorious in what was only his first-ever season as a full pro.
“There was no way I would have been comfortable with Coleman winning after that rivalry we had created.”
Gatlin, who paid homage to Bolt after the race by kneeling down in front of him before they shared a warm embrace, was grateful for Bolt for helping him better himself as an athlete after he worked his way back to the top following an infamous four-year doping ban.
“I realised in that moment that you gave me so much growth as an athlete and a human. I knew that was your last race and I recognised ‘ bro, I appreciate you’,” Gatlin told Bolt.
Bolt won eight Olympic gold medals and 11 world championships before calling time on his career.
Leave a Reply