Usain Bolt reveals how quick he could run 100 metres now eight years after retiring

Usain Bolt reveals how quick he could run 100 metres now eight years after retiring Newspoint | 23/02/2025 02:39:08

Usain Bolt claimed he would have a time of over 10 seconds if he ran a 100-metre sprint race now nearly a decade after retiring.

The Jamaican retired in 2017 as arguably the greatest sprinter to ever do it, with plenty of honours and records to his name. The eight-time set a record speed of 9.58 seconds at the 2009 World Championships that has yet to be bested by any current athlete - and may never be beaten.

Now, eight years after his last professional race, feels he couldn't come close to his original world record if he ran the 100 metres as a 38-year-old. While appearing on the Obi One podcast alongside former Chelsea star John Obi Mikel, said: "Maybe 10:30, that would be me."

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A time of 10.30 seconds - whilst still rapid, especially for a person of his age - is, however, almost a full second from his original world record and would place him quite far down the list in races these days.

In fact, to compare a time of 10.30 to last year's 100-metre Olympic final in Paris, Bolt would've come dead last - with the slowest time being 9.91 seconds.

The sprinter who came last in the 2024 Olympics was Oblique Seville - the same athlete who Speaking on The Fix podcast, the Jamaican revealed that he would back Seville over other sprinting stars of this generation - such as Olympic champion Noah Lyles, Kishane Thompson and Fred Kerley - to finally smash the record of 9.58.

Bolt said: "I feel like Oblique can do it.

If he can stay fit during the season and get it right, I feel he can do it, because I am sure there is something there, the ability to do it."

The retired athlete did point out some fragility in Seville, but claimed that his fellow Jamaican just has to overcome this hurdle in order to become the best in the world.

Bolt added: "Some of the time Oblique can be fragile. It’s a matter of the work situation or whatever, but if he’s doing enough work, he can do it. It’s a matter of time because he’s not missed the finals yet, so it’s just to get over the hump."