What do you do after retiring as the most legendary athlete of all time? Well Usain Bolt has a few ideas.
The fastest man in history called time on his career in 2017 with world records in 100 metres and 200 metres and eight Olympic gold medals to boot.
4
4
Undoubtedly one of the most famous people of all time, the Jamaican had plenty of fun after his career peak, even trying to become a professional football player with Borussia Dortmund and Central Coast Mariners.
Now aged 38 and spending more time out of the limelight, Bolt has revealed a pair of new hobbies.
While making an appearance on Italian TV on the Che tempo che fa talk show, he was asked how he spends his free time and said: “I would like to do nothing, but in reality I always have something to do.
“But there is nothing more beautiful than doing nothing. I play dominoes for six hours a day with my friends.”
He was then asked about his hobby of music production and replied: “I’m aiming for the Grammy.”
Bolt was famous for leaving the competition in his dust despite not having the most regimented diet, regularly divulging in chicken nuggets and fast food.
He also once won a race with a shoe lace untied, while he’d also taunt competitors as he crossed the line ahead of them.
Yet even now he hasn’t let himself go, as he explained: “Now I’m retired, but I have to keep fit. Don’t I look like a pensioner?
“When I finished running they used to tell me ‘you’ll gain weight’ I proved them wrong.”
Some would criticise Bolt, saying he could have been even faster, and he’s now agreed with that theory, telling host Fabio Fazio: “Yes, I could have done more, I think so.
4
4
“There were some things I could have taken better care of to go faster. But I was only interested in winning and proving to the world that I was the best.”
Bolt did exactly that, and his records are yet to be beaten, even with the hype around Noah Lyles doing so at the Paris Olympics in 2024.
In fact, there was only one rival faster than Bolt, all the way back when he was seven years old, but he still beat him.
Reflecting on his childhood, he said: “Growing up in the countryside was great, I wouldn’t change anything about those years, they made me the person I am today.
“I started running at seven years old, I still remember the joy of winning my first race. There was someone who was faster than me, a little older, his name was Ricardo Guedes, I’ll never forget his name.
“I bet my coach that I could beat him, the prize was a lunch box. And I won.”
The highs continued for Bolt with gold medal after gold medal, but his greatest memory is one that will put a smile on the faces of Brits.
Asked for his greatest memory, he said London 2012, and explained: “I was the flag bearer there, and the stadium was always full, there was crazy cheering.
“It always gives me goosebumps to look at myself. I ask myself: is that me? They are beautiful memories.
“Knowing that I managed to make so many people happy is wonderful for me.”
