As the world once again sought to crown the fastest man on the track, the legendary Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt watched from a stadium skybox, his iconic presence still overshadowing a sport profoundly changed by his departure. While Oblique Seville may have claimed the latest 100-meter world championship title, Usain Bolt’s renown as a track star of the century continues to extend far beyond the realm of sports.
Even eight years after his retirement, no one has managed to equal his incredible times or replicate his magnetic appeal. In a recent interview before the World Athletics Championship races, Bolt expressed satisfaction, stating that this enduring legacy was ‘what I worked for.’ He reflected, ‘When I was competing, my goal was to shatter existing benchmarks. Now in retirement, it’s incredibly gratifying to realize that I *am* the benchmark for anyone aspiring to be the best, to become a legend. I aimed to set exceptionally high standards, and I achieved that. I’m truly content with it.’
His remarkable career is backed by an impressive array of statistics: eight Olympic gold medals, eleven World Championship gold medals, and three world records — 9.58 seconds in the 100m, 19.19 seconds in the 200m, and 36.84 seconds in the 4x100m relay — all of which remain unbroken. Remarkably, since his retirement, no athlete has managed to come within 0.12 seconds of either of his individual sprint records.
When questioned about this enduring gap, especially considering modern advancements in shoe and track technology that offer athletes greater advantages than during his prime 15 years ago, Bolt provided insight into why he remains the sport’s most captivating figure. With a characteristic grin, he quipped, ‘Do you really want the honest answer? We were just more naturally talented. I mean, you can’t simply run faster just because you have brand-new spikes, can you?’
However, Bolt’s legend extends beyond mere speed. His unique talent for using his immense platform to entertain and unite people — a crucial skill at a time when the Olympics needed a revitalizing force — cemented his status as one of track and field’s most pivotal personalities. From his iconic ‘To Di World’ pose and relaxed victory laps accompanied by vibrant reggae, to his infectious, wide smile and the sheer joy he radiated despite the intense demands of his sport, he transformed track and field into a captivating, personality-driven spectacle, giving millions a compelling reason to tune in. He elaborated, ‘It all comes down to personality. Many attempt to be entertaining, but it often feels forced. For me, it was simply about enjoying myself. If you force it, it loses its authenticity. I was just genuinely having a good time, and that approach allowed me to truly connect with the fans, which is why they responded so positively.’
Sunday marked Bolt’s first official appearance at either an Olympic Games or World Championships since he retired from competitive sprinting following the 2017 championships in London. Now a father to a 5-year-old daughter, Olympia Lightning Bolt, and 4-year-old twin sons, Saint Leo and Thunder Bolt, he’s simply ‘Dad’ at home. However, the greatest sprinter of all time believes their perspective might shift during the next World Championships, two years from now, held in Beijing – the very city where his stellar career famously ignited in 2008. He shared his excitement, ‘I’m thrilled to bring my children and show them, ‘Look, this is where it all began.’ I’ve shown them videos and other things, but by then, at ages six and seven, they’ll be able to grasp the significance of the moment, and I can truly explain to them everything their dad accomplished over the years during the 2008 Beijing Olympics, where he claimed three gold medals and set three world records.’