Usain Bolt credits a persistent American sprinter for motivating him during the final years of his illustrious career.
Jamaican sprint legend Usain Bolt recently opened up about the pivotal role his rivalry with an American sprinter played in maintaining his motivation through the twilight years of his illustrious career.
Speaking on former Nigerian football star Mikel Obi's "Obi One" podcast, Bolt did not shy away from praising his competitor, whom he faced frequently on the track's biggest stages.
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The eight-time Olympic gold medalist credited his rival for pushing him to the limits, particularly when his motivation began to wane.
"The last five, six years of my career, it was me and him every season. He kept me on my toes throughout, and I loved the competition," said Bolt.
This competitive spirit, he noted, was crucial in pushing him to maintain high performance standards even as he navigated the latter stages of his career.
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Bolt, who has captured the world's attention with his record-breaking speed and charismatic personality, is widely regarded as the greatest sprinter of all time.
He recounted several of their memorable clashes, emphasizing how these encounters often came at times when he needed an extra push to excel.
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A particular moment that reignited his competitive fire involved a social media video.
"I remember I'm just on Instagram scrolling, and someone sent me a video," Bolt recalled.
In it, his rival confidently predicted his own victory over Bolt, a moment that spurred the Jamaican to ramp up his efforts.
"He was like, 'I'm gonna win, don't worry, and I'm going to wear the gold medal around my neck.' And I'm like, 'What?' Alright, let's go then," he noted
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This incident, Bolt said, "refueled" him significantly, driving him to push beyond the complacency that can sometimes follow repeated success.
Beyond the personal anecdotes, Bolt highlighted the consistency and reliability of his American counterpart, especially in major championships.
"Listen, Gatlin is going to show up. He is that guy in a Championship; no matter what is going on, he is going to show up," Bolt quoted his coach's trust in his rival's abilities.
This respect underscored the high regard Bolt holds for the competitive dynamics that defined his career's challenging moments.
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Currently recovering from surgery, Bolt reflected on the physical and mental demands of sustaining a career at the top of athletics, noting how vital his rival's presence was in maintaining his edge.
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