I think I incorrectly said I thought he would come back out of retirement but that never happened. But I guess I wasn't too far off as check out what he said on a recent podcast:
"If I'd known, it's not like I'm not enjoying the time, but I'd have probably gone four more years and say, you know what? Let's try for Tokyo.
"But because I dominated so much, I was like 'Oh i don't need to go,' but I knew I was going to miss it so much I'd say, 'let's go four more years.'"
This is probably why he retired:
It would have been sad to witness. It ended up being 5 years, not 4. Guys who decided to hold on for one more chance in their mid 30s were extra impacted by the added year, mentally and physically. Lochte eventually decided to narrow to his best event, the 200 individual medley, but didn't come close to making the team.
Phelps made the correct decision to bail completely after Rio. Bolt was already a shell of himself in 2017. And he focused exclusively on the 100 that year because he didn't have the energy or dedication to train for 200. Right now he's gained weight and hasn't found anything rewarding, so we get quotes like this.
Bolt obviously isn't a golfer. That's the greatest sport for a retired athlete, especially a legend. Jordan got hooked and was quickly showing up at Ryder Cups. Likewise with Phelps, who has been visible behind the 16th tee at the Masters.
Duplantis similarly won't have any problem.
I always thought it was a mistake to think that there is such a thing as a legacy, and going out on top was best. (except in boxing)
Sporting careers are short, and you should do it until you cant do it anymore. A few old man losses are no big deal (except to the 'fans')
If you leave before you've exhausted that drive, you'll wake up one day and wish you'd kept at it. Like Bolt. As it was, he'd have to drop one event as he was getting a little fragile.
Nah he probably wouldn't have gotten a medal in 2019. Especially not in the 100. By 2021 he would have struggled to make a final.
He should have continued but switched events to long jump and javelin
Bolt too should fight Jake Paul
rojo wrote:
I think I incorrectly said I thought he would come back out of retirement but that never happened. But I guess I wasn't too far off as check out what he said on a recent podcast:
"If I'd known, it's not like I'm not enjoying the time, but I'd have probably gone four more years and say, you know what? Let's try for Tokyo.
"But because I dominated so much, I was like 'Oh i don't need to go,' but I knew I was going to miss it so much I'd say, 'let's go four more years.'"
My view of his career was that by 2017 his body had run out of gas. Not that he was old per se, but he had suffered several injuries from 2012 to 2017. I think world class sprint training really does a number on the body, and for a lot of people the injuries just catch up from endless months/years of training.
Pains me to say it as I admire Bolt’s amazing talent and beautiful running. But this has to make you wonder.
2008: 100m – 9.69, 200m – 19.30
2009: 100m – 9.58, 200m – 19.19
2011: 100m - false start, 200m - 19.40
2012: 100m – 9.63, 200m - 19.32
***WADA investigates Jamaica drug testing authorities for its lack of out of competition testing***
2013: 100m - 9.77, 200m - 19.66
2015: 100m - 9.79, 200m - 19.55
2016: 100m – 9.81, 200m – 19.78
Was Bolt simply overwhelmed by injuries, accumulated from years of over training? Or was he unable to dope after 2012 the way he had before? I am not a cynic, but this is worth asking.
I think he timed his retirement perfectly. He maintained his aura of invincibility. Losing to a convicted doper (Gatlin) and a guy who has trouble hearing the doorbell when drug testers show up (Coleman) isn't really a loss.
Like this comment if you think he was doping, dislike it if you think he was clean, I’m curious how many people think he is
Bolt was slowing down those last couple seasons and he knew it.
Thinking he did it right and at the right time.
Mikeh33 wrote:
Pains me to say it as I admire Bolt’s amazing talent and beautiful running. But this has to make you wonder.
2008: 100m – 9.69, 200m – 19.30
2009: 100m – 9.58, 200m – 19.19
2011: 100m - false start, 200m - 19.40
2012: 100m – 9.63, 200m - 19.32
***WADA investigates Jamaica drug testing authorities for its lack of out of competition testing***
2013: 100m - 9.77, 200m - 19.66
2015: 100m - 9.79, 200m - 19.55
2016: 100m – 9.81, 200m – 19.78
Was Bolt simply overwhelmed by injuries, accumulated from years of over training? Or was he unable to dope after 2012 the way he had before? I am not a cynic, but this is worth asking.
Keep in mind that the conditions in Moscow 2013 was pretty bad in the 100m final. Rain and a headwind of 0.3 m/s. Bolt won that by a comfortable margin, 9.77 was Gatlin's 9.85. Bolt had a either slight headwind or a slight tailwind in his last three 100m championship finals. 2012 in London was the one time he had great conditions in a 100m final, with a 1.5m/s tailwind. (Berlin 2009 was good/decent with a 0.9m/s tailwind)
Gatlin may have dominated the DL circuit in 2015 with a bunch of sub-9.80 performances. 9.74, 9.75, 9.75 and 9.78 leading into Beijing. But Bolt rose to the occasion with a 9.79 against Gatlin's 9.80 in a 0.5m/s headwind.
And Gatlin may have had the world lead in 2016 with a 9.80 (+1.6m/s). But Bolt's Rio performance, 9.81 in a 0.2m/s tailwind was obviously more impressive.
Bolt peaked a bit earlier than his rivals (except Blake)
Bolt peaked the year he turned 23 (both in the 100m and 200m)
Blake peaked in the 100m the year he turned 23, and in the 200m the year he turned 22
Powell peaked in the 100m the year he turned 26
Gay peaked in the 100m and the 200m the year he turned 27
Gatlin peaked in the 100m and the 200m the year he turned 33
edit:
As a bonus here are their fastest 100m times after turning 30:
Gatlin: 9.74, Powell: 9.81, Gay: 9.87, Blake: 9.85, Bolt: 9.95 (Bolt did run 9.81 7 days before his 30th birthday though)
Mikeh33 wrote:
Pains me to say it as I admire Bolt’s amazing talent and beautiful running. But this has to make you wonder.
2008: 100m – 9.69, 200m – 19.30
2009: 100m – 9.58, 200m – 19.19
2011: 100m - false start, 200m - 19.40
2012: 100m – 9.63, 200m - 19.32
***WADA investigates Jamaica drug testing authorities for its lack of out of competition testing***
2013: 100m - 9.77, 200m - 19.66
2015: 100m - 9.79, 200m - 19.55
2016: 100m – 9.81, 200m – 19.78
Was Bolt simply overwhelmed by injuries, accumulated from years of over training? Or was he unable to dope after 2012 the way he had before? I am not a cynic, but this is worth asking.
No way was IAAF gonna let Bolt test positive. That would be like half the sport's revenue gone.
Back in the day I was the mod at a place called SUB10, yep, sprinting was the king.
That was back in my.....Brutal....days.
I met a lot of Jamaicans there, which got another site going just about Caribbean sprinting.
A lot of these guys were personal friends of Bolt and Yohan Blake, All of these guys sang the same song......Bolt is not cool with PED's and cheaters and didn't care much for Blake because of it.
Why on earth would Usain Bolt need PED'S, well?
I go with what those who actually know him have said,
u/sprinter100m, is that you?
hcbingo44 wrote:
Nope~~~~
He could have destroyed for at least 5 more years. I was wondering why quit because he was ahead of everyone.
You have to take into account that he had scoliosis that contributed to him getting injured. I had scoliosis and that shortened my competitive running days by a lot (years).
