Usain Bolt makes shock revelation: “I get out of breath climbing stairs”
Usain Bolt, the fastest human in history (9.58 in the 100m and 19.19 in the 200m) retired in 2017.
Usain Bolt received a massive ovation from the crowd in Tokyo. Eight years into retirement and absent from the World Athletics Championships since then, his return—invited by World Athletics—proved to be the right call. Fans, journalists, athletes... everyone wanted to be near him: to greet him, shake his hand, snap a photo. And at 39, the Jamaican remains as dedicated as ever.
He cheered like a hooligan while compatriots Seville and Thompson completed a 100-meter double, and he stood proudly alongside “Mondo” Duplantis during the presentation of the Ultimate Championship, set to debut in September 2026.
When 68,000 fans roared for him on Sunday night, it brought back memories for Bolt, the brightest star the sport has ever produced. Eight Olympic golds, eleven world titles, and three world records still stand in his name: 9.58 seconds in the 100 meters, 19.19 in the 200, and 36.84 in the 4x100 relay. Add to that his charisma and his effortless rapport with fans worldwide, and it’s easy to see why Bolt remains unmatched.
He has spent the week in Tokyo attending media events, serving up a mix of humor and candor. Asked why the current generation hasn’t surpassed his era despite advances in technology—shoes, spikes, track surfaces—he didn’t hesitate: “Do you want the real answer? We were just more talented.” He pointed to Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, who retired in Tokyo but competed during his peak years: “Look, Shelly with the new spikes runs faster. It’s that simple—it’s just talent.”
As for why he connects so powerfully with the public, Bolt has his own explanation: “It’s personality. A lot of people try to be funny, but it feels forced. If you try too hard, it’s not the same. It has to be natural.” When he opens up, he’s a headline machine.
“Normally, I wake up in time to see the kids off to school. If I don’t have anything to do, I just relax. Sometimes I exercise if I’m in the mood. I watch TV until the kids come home. I spend some time with them until they start bothering me—and then I leave. Later, I’ll watch movies or build Lego.”
The man who once redefined sprinting admits he now carries more weight than the mental image of the “Lightning Bolt.” “I train in the gym, but I have to start running again. When I climb the stairs, I get out of breath.” Still, Tokyo has been such a joy that he’s already looking ahead.
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He plans to bring his children—Olympia Lightning (5) and twins Saint Leo and Thunder (4)—to the 2027 World Championships in Beijing: “I’ll take them and say: ‘This is where it all happened.’ I’ve shown them videos, but in Beijing I’ll be able to tell them, in person, what their father did.”
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