Usain Bolt: 'I'm not coming back'

Legendary sprint king, Bolt, has ruled out a comeback to the track, emphatically stating that he has moved on.

Published : Apr 12, 2018 18:13 IST , GOLD COAST

Usain Bolt quashed reports of returning to the field ahead of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Usain Bolt quashed reports of returning to the field ahead of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
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Usain Bolt quashed reports of returning to the field ahead of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Legendary sprint king, Usain Bolt, on Thursday, ruled out a comeback to the track, emphatically stating that he has moved on.

The Jamaican also urged the younger generation to work hard in order to be successful.

"I am, as you all know, from a rural area of Jamaica, from the country where I used to play football in the streets with anything I could get my hands on, and I played with bare feet.

"It was all of a sudden that I was drawn into track and field. It is my hard work that has helped me to the top of the world. But at no point in time did I think I would be at this level.

"I get messages all the time, not just from track athletes, but from random people in life saying you have inspired me to do well, to work hard. I would never ask anyone to follow my footsteps, but what I ask them is to remain dedicated and focussed on whatever they do.

"In athletics, you should really remain focussed. The kind of work I did, when I look back, has been mind-blowing. It would all have easy on television, but the reality is different," Bolt said.

READ: Bolt set for three-week Dortmund stint

The 31-year-old said he is yet to feel the void post his retirement and quashed reports of returning to the field ahead of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

"I am done with it. I was able to contribute so much to the sport, got a fair name and now it is time to realise some of the other goals I have had in my mind. Left to myself, I think it is all unbelievable and I am happy," he said.

However, the great champion confessed missing the roar and adrenalin - the driving force in his journey through the sport.

"Yes, I would be lying if I told you that I do not miss all that. But then, my team keeps me busy as I am trying to get back to shape. I am busier as I travel a lot these days, now that I have retired. So, in a way, I haven’t got the time until now to think about all that."

Bolt also made it clear that he had no plans of signing a contract with the English Premier League Club, Manchester United, not yet anyway.

"There is no such thing right now. It’s (his entry into football) still in the early stages, still doing trials and trying to get fit, still working on a few things. But I am very serious about playing football and I’m putting in the work and working with Diamond (in the Diamond League), trying to figure out which direction I am going to go. I am not linked to Manchester, but hopefully in the future," he noted.

The athlete was also quite clear on his view of the Commonwealth Games, "Yes, people keep on saying that the (Commonwealth) Games has lost its relevance. To me, personally, it was a championship and I always used to take championships seriously.

"It is a great stepping stone and though I was unable to take part in Glasgow, I hope that athletes take it seriously and use this platform to gain further laurels,” he signed off.

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