Category: Track and field

 

Justin Gatlin has paid homeage to Usain Bolt for reviving his sprinting career after getting back into the sport in 2010.

American sprinting legend Justin Gatlin has expressed his deep gratitude to his long-time Jamaican rival, Usain Bolt, crediting him for saving his career and helping him re-establish himself among the sport’s elite.

 

Gatlin’s journey was nearly derailed in 2006 when he was handed a four-year ban after testing positive for the banned performance-enhancing substance testosterone.

 

His suspension kept him out of competitive sprinting until 2010. However, his road to redemption saw him claim his first global medal post-ban in 2012—a bronze in the Olympic 100m final, where Bolt successfully defended his title with an Olympic record of 9.64 seconds.

 

This race set the stage for five intense years of rivalry, culminating in Gatlin’s victory over Bolt in 2017 at the Jamaican’s farewell race.

 

Ranking the top 5 ‘Harambee Stars’ Greatest Players of All Time

Ranking the top 5 ‘Harambee Stars’ Greatest Players of All Time

Yet, as Gatlin now reveals, his return to the highest level of sprinting might never have materialized had Bolt—then the sport’s most influential figure—chosen not to compete against him.

 

Sitting down with Bolt on his Ready Set Go podcast, co-hosted by Rodney Greene, Gatlin reflected on the crucial role Bolt played in his resurgence.

 

He acknowledged that Bolt’s decision to welcome the competition, rather than shun him, provided the motivation he needed to push himself to the pinnacle of the sport once again.

 

“The influence you had at that point in time, you could easily have had a sound bite in an interview and said, ‘I don’t want to race against him,’ and you could easily have ended my career,” Gatlin admitted.

 

Who is Terry Engesha? Everything you need to know about the Harambee Starlets striker whose goal made history in Tunisia

Who is Terry Engesha? Everything you need to know about the Harambee Starlets striker whose goal made history in Tunisia

“It meant so much to me. From that situation, I wanted to be my best. I wanted to be like, ‘If he is going to beat me, he will have to be at his best.’”

 

Bolt, who famously defended Gatlin in a 2017 press conference when a journalist aggressively questioned him about his doping past, explained why he was always in favor of Gatlin’s return to the track.

 

“We are in this sport together. Nobody is perfect. I was excited when he came back because my coach was like, ‘This guy is going to show up, so be ready.’ So, I was excited,” Bolt stated.

 

The eight-time Olympic gold medalist also emphasized how Gatlin’s presence in the sport elevated his own performances.

 

‘I could have retired at 25 or 21’- Yohan Blake on the tempting offers that nearly forced him to ditch Jamaica

‘I could have retired at 25 or 21’- Yohan Blake on the tempting offers that nearly forced him to ditch Jamaica

“There was no let-off. I could not miss a day. So for me, it was one of the best times. I really enjoyed it.

 

“ Competing with Tyson (Gay) was two years, Asafa (Powell) was one year, (Yohan) Blake was one year, but me and Justin went at it for years. It was great to have a competitor that could keep me at the top of my game.”

 

Gatlin’s acknowledgment of Bolt’s sportsmanship and unwavering competitiveness highlights the deep mutual respect between the two former rivals.

 

Their battles on the track shaped one of the most compelling sprinting rivalries in history, and as time passes, it becomes even clearer how much they both benefited from pushing each other to their limits.

In Tokyo on Sunday, Paula Radcliffe, a former world record holder, ran her first competitive marathon in ten years. Ten years after concluding her illustrious athletic career at the 2015 London Marathon, Radcliffe, 51, completed in two hours, 57 minutes, and 26 seconds.

With a run of 2:15:25 in 2003, the Briton held the world record for 16 years until Kenya’s Brigid Kosgei smashed it in 2019. Additionally, Sunday’s winner, Sutume Asefa Kebede of Ethiopia, who defended her Tokyo championship in 2:16:31, nevertheless beat her previous record.

Ethiopia’s Hawi Feysa finished third in 2:17:00, followed by Kenya’s Winfridah Moraa Moseti in second place in 2:16:56. Tadese Takele of Ethiopia won his first major marathon championship in the men’s division in 2:03:23.

Third place went to Vincent Kipkemoi Ngetich of Kenya in 2:04:00, followed by Deresa Geleta of Ethiopia in 2:03:51. Joshua Cheptegei, a double Olympic track champion from Uganda, finished ninth. As part of her goal to compete in all six major marathons, Radcliffe will also run in the Boston Marathon next month.

Radcliffe plans to participate in all six major marathons, including the Boston Marathon next month. In an interview with Athletics Weekly, she stated: “I turned 50 last year and am now 51. When I think about my remaining aspirations, crossing off the six marathon majors is usually one of them.

“I never really got the chance to race Tokyo because it was five for the majority of my career before Tokyo was added. And because Boston was so near to London, I never went there. The other big marathons are in Berlin, Chicago, and New York, in addition to London, Boston, and Tokyo.

 

Saint Lucia’s golden girl Julien Alfred earned a deserving praise from Noah Lyles picking her as the world’s fastest woman ahead of Sha’Carri Richardson.

Olympic champion Noah Lyles has thrown his weight behind Saint Lucia’s golden girl Julien Alfred as the world’s fastest woman ahead of his American teammate Sha’Carri Richardson.

 

Making an appearance on the Toure Show, Lyles was questioned regarding who rightly owns the bragging rights of the world’s fastest man and woman, which the sprint star gladly elaborated.

 

“Sha’carri Richardson is not the world’s fastest woman, Julien Alfred is,” he said.

 

At the Paris Olympic Games, Alfred dashed to the 100m gold medal clocking a personal best of 10.72s, ahead of Richardson who settled for the silver medal.

 

The Saint Lucian sprint queen also claimed World 60m and Diamond League titles, thus ending the season as the undisputed queen of women’s sprint for the year.

 

 

Julien Alfred dashed to the Olympic 100m gold medal ahead of Sha’Carri Richardson in Paris

However, Richardson is the reigning world 100m champion following her victorious run at the 2023 World Championships in Budapest. In addition, for the second consecutive year, she ended the season as the world leader, having clocked the fastest time of 10.71s, which wasn’t matched or surpassed by any female sprinter.

 

While the bragging rights of the world’s fastest woman and man will always stir controversy and be a topic of debate, there’s no guiding rule that governs how or when it can be used.

 

Sha’Carri Richardson sets record straight on her most memorable victory

Sha’Carri Richardson is the World 100m champion and ended 2024 season with the fastest time

Athletes, fans, and the media have their believed definitions on the title by winning the 100m gold medal at a major championship in a given year or by clocking the world’s fastest time for the season.

 

There are also debates on Usain Bolt still deservedly being on his throne as the 100m and 200m world record holder, and until his times are surpassed, he remains the world’s fastest man.

 

‘The first time I was chasing ever’ – Usain Bolt reveals how he clocked Justin Gatlin’s nervousness before winning 2015 World Championships

‘The first time I was chasing ever’ – Usain Bolt reveals how he clocked Justin Gatlin’s nervousness before winning 2015 World Championships

Whatever the case, Lyles can currently earn his position as World and Olympic 100m champion. So does that make him the world’s fastest man?

 

Usain Bolt created quite some ripples during his peak. Not only on the tracks but outside of it too. While he was running 9:58s 100m dashes, the fame quotient around him skyrocketed. Thus, more and more brands tried to associate its name with the Jamaican track and field legend. Over the years, there have been a lot of big name companies that have scooped up Bolt as their brand ambassador. However, one of the biggest names that comes to mind instantly is Nike. But remember when the Bolt-Nike deal did not have an ideal ending?

 

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While Bolt won his 2008 Olympic gold medal, the Jamaican also had a world record-breaking World Championships victory just a year later. Around this time, some significant rumors were circulating about Usain Bolt switching from his longtime sponsor, Puma. And the biggest competitor to sign Bolt was none other than Nike.

With speculations running wild, the deal with Nike ultimately did not go through. While Bolt signed one of the most lucrative contracts with Puma, the controversy got buried with time. However, there has not been any clear reasoning about what exactly happened during Bolt’s face-off with the billion-dollar conglomerate. But now, after all these years, there is some much needed clarity on the topic.

 

The honest confession comes from none other than the Jamaican legend himself. In a recent appearance on the Ready Set Go podcast, Bolt sat down with Justin Gatlin and Rodney Green. Discussing an array of different topics, the fastest man on earth was asked about his failed Nike deal and what exactly went down. While he agreed that he indeed had a talk with Nike about a possible contract, the meeting enabled him to land an even better deal with Puma! Wait, what! “Nike, we had a meeting with Nike, it was after 2012, or before 2012. That’s the only time we’ve had a meeting with Nike. Nah, Puma just matched the contract. They got me paid,” said Bolt. After all, which company will let someone like Usain Bolt slip away for some dollars! Puma went to great lengths (literally) to secure Usain Bolt!

 

 

 

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Bolt further doubled down on how the CEO of Puma took special initiative and personally met with Bolt to discuss the contract. “Mr. Zeitz at the time was the Puma CEO, and he flew us to Kenya that year.

Africa. Yeah, and we sat and discussed, and when he told me to figure out to play it cool, bro, I had to play it cool. They got me paid, I must say,” Bolt further added. However, apart from the single instance, Bolt has never once tried to explore deals outside of Puma. Bolt had stated earlier that several companies had lucrative offers for him. But he did not entertain any. After all, Puma was family! Just an example of what respect and acknowledgement can get for you!

 

 

Which company secured Usain Bolt with a lifetime endorsement deal, making him one of the few athletes to receive such an honor?

 

 

 

Surely, Bolt’s loyalty towards Puma helped both himself and the brand attain significant success. After all, the track and field sensation has had one of the rarest deals with Puma. But what is it all about?

 

Usain Bolt’s exclusive lifetime deal under Puma alongside other members from the club of legends

 

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Only a handful of athletes in history have secured lifetime endorsement deals from brands like Nike and Puma. And the list of Puma is graced by names like Michael Jordan, LeBron James, and of course, Jamaican sprinting legend Usain Bolt. While most sponsorships fade after retirement, Bolt’s partnership with Puma remains as strong as ever. And this ensures that he continues to earn millions long after leaving the track. Now that is a privilege!

 

In 2013, Puma elevated Bolt’s status to an entirely new level by signing him to a groundbreaking lifetime endorsement deal—the first of its kind in track and field. During his competitive years, the Jamaican track legend earned a staggering $10 million annually from the brand. Even in retirement, he pockets $4 million per year simply for being the face of Puma! Those numbers have got us all dizzy! Just goes to show he isn’t just a guy who runs incredibly fast. He is one of the most, if not the most, marketable athletes of all time. But this shouldn’t come as a shock to anyone. Bolt’s enduring influence was clear to Puma from the start.

 

 

via Getty

After the 2004 Olympics, when some doubted his future, the brand stood by him. Former Puma CEO Jochen Zeitz recalled, “I remember after the Athens Olympics, some people were saying he’s never going to make it… but I was bright enough to sign him and was bright enough not to let him go when he was injured.” Look how far the faith in a budding athlete has taken the company! That decision turned out to be one of the most lucrative in sports marketing history, securing Puma a lifelong ambassador in the fastest man the world has ever seen.

 

 

 

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With this deal, the 38-year-old joined a club reserved for global icons. Nike pioneered the concept when it handed NBA legend Michael Jordan the first lifetime contract, later extending the same honor to Lakers’ icon LeBron James. Puma’s decision to do the same for Bolt wasn’t just about his speed. Rather, it was more about his global appeal, charisma, and ability to transcend the sport. Even years after retirement, the name Usain Bolt continues to carry weight, proving that legends aren’t just remembered—they’re rewarded for life.

 

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Usain Bolt was a man on a mission at London 2012, and Yohan Blake was to blame.

 

The fastest man alive cemented his legendary status at the Summer Games as he retained his 100 metre and 200m titles, as well as claiming gold in the 4 x 100m relay.

 

 

Usain Bolt took his Olympic gold medal tally to five at London 2012

Usain Bolt took his Olympic gold medal tally to five at London 2012Credit: Getty

After completing the sprint double with victory in the 200m final, Bolt became the first man to successfully defend both crowns, having also triumphed in the two events at Beijing in 2008.

 

Taking silver behind the Jamaican on both occasions in London was long-time rival and compatriot Yohan Blake.

 

And Bolt has now revealed his heroics that summer were fuelled by his desire to gain revenge over his compatriot, who had left him furious just a month earlier.

 

 

In July 2012, the pair faced off in the 100m and 200m at the Jamaican Olympic trials, with Blake twice finishing in first place.

 

But it was his actions after his 200m victory which angered Bolt, as Blake performed a ‘shush’ celebration upon crossing the finish line.

 

 

But the two-time Olympic silver medallist was unprepared for the response this would trigger, as Bolt immediately promised revenge.

 

Recalling the events on the Ready Set Go podcast, the sprinting legend said: “When I lost to Blake at the Championship in 2012, I hugged him.

 

 

“I was like: ‘Bro, this will never happen again’.”

 

On Blake’s ‘shush’ gesture, he continued: “I didn’t even see when he did that initially, it was after I went and I watched over everything.

 

“I was like: ‘Nah Blake, you’re losing your mind, bro! You’re losing your mind! What!’”

 

Blake’s ‘shush’ celebration at the Jamaican Olympic trials did not go down well with Bolt

Blake’s ‘shush’ celebration at the Jamaican Olympic trials did not go down well with BoltCredit:

The Olympics legend opened up on his reaction to the gesture

The Olympics legend opened up on his reaction to the gesture

 

Bolt then revealed how he became intent on avenging his defeat, as he cancelled his next event to instead prepare for their London rematch.

 

The 38-year-old went on: “We had one month until the Olympics after that. I had one more race in Monaco, I cancelled that s***. I was like: ‘Nah’.

 

“They would have given me so much money to come, the guy kept upping the money. Every day Ricky [Simms, his agent] called me like: ‘Add more money to it.’

 

“I was like: ‘Nah, I’m not going, stop calling me. I’m gonna train for this month.’”

 

 

He then mimicked Blake’s celebration as he reiterated his annoyance at the time: “You must be crazy! Do you know what I mean?”

 

It’s fair to say Bolt had the last laugh in London, claiming the ultimate prize in both of the events he had lost to Blake a month previously.

 

Usain Bolt and Yohan Blake celebrating after the 200m final at the 2012 London Olympics.

Bolt made sure to remind Blake of his previous antics on the big

(LtoR) Silver medallist Jamaica’s Yohan Blake, gold medallist Jamaica’s Usain Bolt and bronze medallist Jamaica’s Warren Weir pose on the podium after the men’s 200m final at the athletics event during the London 2012 Olympic Games on August 9, 2012 in London.

The sprint duo formed part of a Jamaica one-two-three in the 200m at London 2012, as Warren Weir won bronze

 

And the Jamaican star duly returned the favour in the 200m final, as he ‘shushed’ his rival at the finish line before dropping to the ground to perform push-ups afterwards in wild celebrations.

 

However, Bolt admitted his desire to exact revenge on Blake may have cost him a chance of beating his own previous world record of 19.19 seconds, clocking a time of 19.32.

 

On the race, he said: “I probably could have broken the world record again, or ran closer. I didn’t give a s***, I just wanted to beat him.

 

“You know, I never do s***. You see after the 200m, I was doing push-ups and everything.

 

 

 

Despite their frosty showdown, Bolt and Blake later reunited to take home 4 x 100m relay gold for Jamaica in the same summer, a feat they repeated four years later at the Rio Olympics.

 

Bolt would cement his immortal status at the 2016 Games, once again defending both sprint titles to record an historic ‘triple-double’, becoming the first ever athlete to achieve the feat.

 

 

The USA sprinting sensation reportedly joked that he didn’t know who he was, prompting Usain Bolt to tell Noah Lyles to “stop acting.” After winning the gold medal in the 100-meter final in a record-breaking event, Lyles cemented his legacy at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.

He still has a chance to equal Bolt’s famous accomplishments, though, as he has won eight Olympic gold medals and is the fastest man in the world. Despite being well-known, the Jamaican seemed to have been annoyed by a playful jab from Lyles. When discussing Lyles on the Ready, Set, Go podcast, he insisted that the 27-year-old show him respect.

When he [Lyles] came out and asked, ‘Usain Bolt who?’ I was like, ‘Bro, stop it.’” he said of his former rival Justin Gatlin.

I usually keep quiet, but I said, “You’re in the wrong sport if you don’t know who Usain Bolt is.” Promotion “So, quit being dramatic. Give my name some dignity. “Stop it. Every time he speaks, he claims he wants to beat my record. I respect everyone and know that you have to aspire high and desire to shatter records, even though he claimed he didn’t mean it that way.

However, I would never treat any of these sprinters disrespectfully. “These are the men who create the foundation for you to descend upon and improve it.”

“I would never say anything bad about these guys before me because they’re the guys who really built the platform and then we add to it, make it greater and compete.” Bolt acknowledged that Lyles would be included in his ideal 100-meter lineup if he had to pick one. He did, however, joke that it was just because he would love to defeat him.

just because I’d like to compete against him in a race. I would adore defeating him. Alongside Lyles, Gatlin, Asafa Powell, Yohan Blake, Tyson Gay, Maurice Greene, and Ben Johnson joined Bolt in his ideal 100-meter lineup. Bolt won six individual Olympic gold medals in the 100- and 200-meter events, winning the double for three straight Games in Beijing (2008), London (2012), and Rio (2016).

No one has been able to surpass either of Bolt’s records since his retirement eight years ago, but Lyles has made no secret of his desire to do so.

And whilst the 27-year-old is fast, he’s just not Bolt-fast, yet.

 

 

“Noah Lyles is a great athlete. He is full of energy. He has the crowd… Mentally he is very strong. He believes in himself.” Usain Bolt said those words in the first episode of the Netflix-produced docuseries Sprint, season one. Did Noah hear those words before the Paris Olympics? Surely. In fact, he remained the prime face in the docuseries and a key voice in campaigning for Sprint. And sprint he did indeed with a blistering 9.79 in the 1oo-meters. So the next question is, did a lightning Bolt impact his performance in the French capital?

 

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Before moving to the Paris Olympics, Lyles had admitted to having a plan to reset the world record in the men’s 100m event. But on the penultimate day, he fell well short of toppling Bolt’s record in the event. Safe to say, that record’s not going to be broken anytime soon. Well, you can’t ignore his fireworks at the event. Noah actually won gold in a final, where each of his rivals went into the sub-10 category to attempt the top podium. Yet, was the race enough to impress Usain Bolt? Think out loud!

 

 

Usain Bolt rates a different race higher

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Is there a race in track and field sports history that comes close to the previously stated final? Usain Bolt has an answer. It is the men’s 100m final in the London Olympics.

 

 

Which sprinter won the gold medal in the men’s 100m final at the Paris Olympics with a time of 9.79 seconds?

 

Noah Lyles

Usain Bolt

Kishane Thompson

Justin Gatlin

But only coming closer? No.

 

According to Bolt, that race was better than Noah’s 100m Olympic final. Thankfully, he had Justin Gatlin, another member from that race, to add anecdotes. The duo almost remained on the same line while talking about that 13-year-old race in an episode of Ready Set Go. In the discussion, Bolt even said, “The accolades and the level that we’re at,” clearly pointing out the level of competition that event in the 2012 Olympics had. Talk about competition, I say!

 

The race had top-class athletes like Usain Bolt, Yohan Blake, Justin Gatlin, Ryan Bailey, Asafa Powell, and even Tyson Gay, who got disqualified. Frankly, some of those sprinters make it to the top 10 in the world. It’s true and Rodney Green supported him for this statement. However, on a few points, both Rodney and Gatlin demonstrated the distinctiveness of the final from the French capital. Such as?

 

The technicality! Check it out…

 

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In the men’s 100m final in Paris, every athlete completed their shot in the sub-10 category. Things could have been the same 13 years ago in the British capital. But Asafa Powell’s injury broke the music. Because of his injury, the former world champion took 11.990 to complete the event.

 

Apart from him, the other seven athletes had their timings settled in the sub-10 category. So the technicality might push that race behind the one from the 2024 Olympics. But remember, in London, the lowest time remained Bolt’s 9.630. In comparison, the Paris Olympics had the best timing set in Noah Lyles’ 9.784. Something from Gatlin?

 

Justin Gatlin, who won the bronze medal in the race against Bolt 13 years ago, cherishes the memory of that incredible moment. That emotion found words in the conversation, and he spoke, “We lined up at the same time. That was the most epic race when it came to legacy for sure time-wise. I can understand where you coming from when it came to like numbers, no statistically right statistically but the fact of I don’t think you’ll ever replicate that race ever again in life, not the top-five, the top five men in history.”

 

You should probably go to YouTube and relive the epic moment!

 

Talking about legacy, there’s someone who still feels the goosebumps from it. Interestingly, he was present during the men’s 100m event at the Paris Olympics.

 

Noah Lyles’ rival feels the goosebumps even after years

In the Paris Olympics, many considered Kishane Thompson the favorite over Noah Lyles to win the men’s 100m final. He had the world-leading time. Also, he had signs of going beyond that timing. Everything was, however, depending on his fitness level. On the night of August, everything went well for him, except his luck.

 

He missed the challenge against Noah Lyles by a minimum margin and saw himself taking the silver medal. Such an outcome would undoubtedly have an impact on him. But did this happen in real life?

 

 

 

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No, certainly not. Kishane remains someone who grew up watching Usain Bolt on the screen. Since those days, he has been idolizing the Jamaican great. In the second season of Netflix’s Sprint, that emotion came out publicly when he said, “I was 7 after the Olympics, and I saw what took place. I got a feeling like no other—the goosebumps that filled me up just watching it, and the thrill that.”

 

 

 

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He further noted, “I got to see that a human being can reach that height or pinnacle of greatness. It put profound encouragement in me as a person, knowing that I should aspire to be greater than that.”

 

So, Kishane has a task in his hands. He couldn’t fulfill it at the Paris Olympics. Maybe something great will turn out later. Till then, you can debate the two races. Which do you think is better? Let us know in the comments section below.

 

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Usain Bolt never cared about the world records in his 16-year-long professional career. Yes! You read it right! In 2009, Bolt didn’t jump into the men’s 100m final at the IAAF World Championships thinking about setting up the record.

 

But the competition in the race and the resulting adrenaline rush helped him to achieve the unthinkable timing in the event. This is so unthinkable that after 16 years of that evening in Germany, the 9.58 timing still stands. But if we tell you that Bolt himself had the best chance to reset the timing in the last decade, would you believe us? And there is something more in the story, Puma as well.

 

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Too much in one place, isn’t it? Let us break it down. In the 2012 London Olympics, Bolt took 9.63 seconds in the men’s 100m final to win the gold medal. The race is widely regarded as the fastest of its kind, with the average time remaining in the sub-10 category. However, Bolt won the race but missed the world record by a margin of nearly 0.05 seconds. He could have brought it down. And this instance of missing opportunity still makes him thoughtful.

 

In his conversation with Justin Gatlin and Rodney Green in the Ready Set Go podcast, Bolt reminisced over that missing chance of resetting his own record. But Rodney quipped something important regarding Bolt’s sponsor, Puma. He said, “You save Puma some money. That was a bonus. That was a bonus?…… They was in the box like, yeah, ‘OK, we got to pay him that bonus. Jeez, this boy keep breaking world records. Jeez.’ shoot.” Have you got the meaning of the former Bahamian athlete’s words?

 

 

 

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What was Usain Bolt’s world record time in the men’s 100m at the 2009 IAAF World Championships?

 

 

 

 

Well, breaking a world record would have given Bolt a large amount of money from Puma as a reward. Moreover, before the London Olympics, the sportswear brand announced Bolt to play a “pivotal role” in its marketing campaign throughout the Games. In such a situation, resetting the world record could have broken the vault for him. But he missed his chance. Nonetheless, he still believes that he had the best chance to do it in London.

 

It wasn’t only about Usain Bolt’s physical fitness in the London Olympics. The conditions stood up for him, making him the best candidate to turn up for the record. Such as? In the interaction with Gatlin and Green, Bolt said, “They [the host] put everybody on my left side…..So I was like, ‘I don’t have to look right….I maybe would have gotten that world record that day. But I messed up….I never think about world records. so I’m running…..And then at the last minute, I was like shit, world record.”

 

In the lane, such a position helped him to measure his opponents’ position during the race. But probably his never-care attitude about world records lost him a new record, and he still seems to regret that! Notably, Justin Gatlin was there in the race. And he was the bronze medalist.

 

Gatlin’s practical experience in the race made him say that Bolt leaned early in the finishing line. If the Jamaican legend had gambled on his deceleration that evening, the needle could have moved faster and he would have had that reward. However, Puma didn’t have to spend extra money on that occasion.

 

The realization of it, in fact, led Gatlin to say, “I bet Puma loves you at the same time. But you, boy, like bonuses after bonuses, rollovers after rollovers, though. Yeah, they didn’t like that.” But Puma already had something stunning with Usain Bolt those days.

 

 

 

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Usain Bolt reaped the results of his success on the track

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Usain Bolt may have missed his chance to put extra money in his bag at the London Olympics as a reward. But three years before it, he had landed a tremendous deal with the brand. The sportsraconteurs called it the “largest ever.” Any idea about the number? As expected, the exact number had never made it to the public.

But the rumor had it around 25 million USD. The deal had been active from 2010 to 2013. The same discussion said that Bolt’s success in the Beijing Olympics earned him such a pricey deal. However, Puma’s then-CEO clarified a few things about that.

 

 

 

 

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In an interaction, Jochen Zeitz said, “Usain has been a tremendous force for the PUMA brand. He embodies the joy, playfulness and irreverence that are the cornerstone of our brand.” His words correctly portrayed the picture of the bond between Puma and Usain Bolt. Since 2003, the two tremendous forces had been in the deal. In 2010, that deal reached the zenith. In 2012, however, Bolt could have gained something far bigger in one go. But that’s uncertain track and field sports are, isn’t it?

 

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Usain Bolt Usain Bolt slams US College system for hurting Jamaican athletes Image source: Imago i Usain Bolt Usain Bolt slams US College system for hurting Jamaican athletes

Usain Bolt called out the American college system for overworking Jamaican athletes, which in turn hinders their professional careers.

The fastest man alive Usain Bolt has explained why most Jamaican athletes that go through the American collegiate system struggle when they turn professional.

 

Usain Bolt revealed that once a Jamaican athlete gets a scholarship to go abroad, things change fast for them, since they are not at liberty to make decisions concerning their careers.

 

The eight-time Olympic champion explained that the athletes end up competing every other weekend and by the time they want to go professional, they have nothing to show on why they should be sponsored.

 

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

The double world record holder added that sprinters are subjected to many different races since one can not only focus on one distance, like the 100m and they have to prove themselves since they have a scholarship.

 

Usain Bolt added that if he could have gotten a scholarship to the US, his career would have been messed up and noted that he is one of the lucky ones.

 

“The college system wasn’t good for Jamaicans…the reason Veronica made it out was because a lot of these schools run you hard. I think if you watch a lot of these athletes that went to college, they turned pro and it wasn’t the same,” Usain Bolt said on the Ready Set Go podcast.

 

Benni McCarthy picks his assistant coach for Harambee Stars job

Benni McCarthy picks his assistant coach for Harambee Stars job

“And what I heard, I don’t know if that’s true is that there are a lot of levels that you have to run every weekend.

 

“There is a championship here, there is this there, so you run your body so hard then you have to try and go into the championship. That messed up a lot of Jamaicans who went there so I was lucky.”

 

Three-time Olympic champion Veronica Campbell-Brown is also among the few who went to the US but managed to survive the ruthless college system.

 

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?

Usain Bolt explained that having signed the deal with Adidas when she was still a student helped her make decisions on the races she wanted to compete in, unlike the others who were solely being managed by their schools.

 

“Veronica made it out because she got a contract from Adidas while she was in college so she could pick and choose where she was going to compete. When you have a scholarship, you just have to go and run all the time,” Usain Bolt revealed.

 

To date, several Jamaican athletes continue securing scholarships to the US, including world under-20 champion Alana Reid and Olympians Ackera Nugent and Nikisha Pryce, just to name a few.

 

However, with Usain Bolt having mentioned the disadvantages of such moves, it is time that the youngsters start rethinking their decisions.

 

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.