Sprint King Usain Bolt took an emotional final bow on the track at the end of the World Championships in London on Sunday before declaring there was no chance he would ever return to sprinting.
After a final lap of honor Bolt was asked by reporters, already missing him, whether he might ever change his mind.
Won’t return
“No, I’ve seen too many people come back, make things worse and shame themselves. I won’t be one of those people who come back,” Bolt said firmly.
On the previous day, the triple world record holder’s stellar career ended tearfully for his adoring fans after he cramped on the last leg of the 4 x 100 meters relay final, falling to the track with a hamstring injury. Thankfully, the injury was not bad.
Looking towards the future
Clearly saddened by the whimpering note on which his glorious career ended, Bolt said he felt consoled on Sunday when someone told him “Muhammad Ali lost his last fight too — so don’t be too stressed about it”.
He is already looking forward to an exciting future. His management camp is talking to IAAF President Sebastian Coe, about what he might do for the sport in an ambassadorial capacity.
Bolt also revealed his coach Glen Mills, the sage of Jamaican athletics, wanted him to become his coaching assistant. “So we’ll see how that goes,” Bolt said.
Close to tears
Coe and the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, presented Bolt with a piece of Lane 7 of the London Stadium track. Bolt ran in Lane 7 in winning gold medals in the 100 and 200 meters at the 2012 London Olympics. After the presentation Bolt embarked on his celebratory lap accompanied by a Bob Marley soundtrack, soaking up the non-stop cheers from the 56,000 full house.
Then he went over to the 200 meters and 100 meters start lines, knelt down and crossed himself.
“I was saying goodbye to my fans and my events also,” he said, admitting he had been close to tears.
