Usain Bolt’s retirement from athletics in 2017 left a void that has yet to be filled, with the Jamaican sprint legend having dominated the sport for nearly a decade.
Bolt combined an imposing personality with exceptional athletic ability, becoming one of the most recognisable figures in global sport.
He won 19 global titles during his career, including 100m and 200m gold medals at the 2008, 2012 and 2016 Olympic Games, as well as two 4x100m relay golds.
At the World Championships, Bolt won consecutive 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay titles from 2009 to 2015, except in 2011 when he was disqualified for a false start.
He remains the world record holder in both the 100m and 200m events.
Speaking in Budapest, where he is serving as an ambassador for the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship, Bolt admitted that he still misses competing.
“You’re always going to miss it,” Bolt said.
“As a sportsman, you’re always going to miss that energy and those vibes and that adrenaline pumping.
“But it’s not my moment. I just enjoy and watch them because I know a lot of them are nervous. It’s exciting.
“It’s good to be in the stadium and to see the future champions.”
Despite retiring after the 2017 World Championships in London, Bolt’s popularity remains undiminished, with athletes, officials and fans regularly seeking opportunities to meet him and take photographs during the Budapest event.
World Athletics President Sebastian Coe said Bolt’s involvement in the sport was important and that the governing body had been discussing ways to keep him engaged since his retirement.
“I sort of feel like Usain is back in our sport again,” Coe said.
The former Olympic 1,500m champion said Bolt was enjoying his involvement in the Ultimate Championship and wanted to contribute more to athletics.
Coe added that traditional administrative roles would not suit Bolt, prompting discussions about finding opportunities that matched his interests.
Bolt also praised the inaugural Ultimate Championship, which brings together Olympic, world and Diamond League champions across three nights of competition and features a $10 million prize pool.
“It’s great,” Bolt said. “The energy has been wonderful.
“I’m loving what’s going on. It’s exciting for me just to hang with the athletes. We’re all here together just talking, giving our thoughts on the next race.
“It’s a good step, a first step to changing track and field for the better.”
Bolt also joked about the absence of a dominant sprinter in the sport since his retirement.
“It just shows how great I was!” he said.
He added that competition was important and that the unpredictability of results could make athletics more exciting for fans.
Reflecting on his career, Bolt said he was satisfied with the legacy he had left in the sport.
“My goal was always to be among the greats in sports,” he said, citing boxing legend Muhammad Ali as one of his inspirations.
“Over the years since I’ve been retired, I’ve seen what I wanted. So I’m happy that I’m actually in the conversation.”
