Usain Bolt announced his planned retirement on Wednesday, saying he expects to stop competing after the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
Bolt kept reporters guessing during last month’s world championships in Moscow. He was asked several times what his future looked like, but he didn’t give a straight answer.
The evasive answers left some reporters thinking he wouldn’t even be at the next Olympics. CNN reports that Bolt cleared the air on Wednesday .
The Jamaican admitted to reporters that he struggled with motivation this season Given his massive collection of medals, it’s understandable. Bolt explained, “I couldn’t find that goal, that drive to get going again.”
So, when reporters asked on Wednesday, Usain Bolt announced his retirement plans, saying, “So far it’s after the Olympics in Rio. If I’m in great shape and I go there and do what I have to do, I think it would be a good time to retire on top and having dominated for so long.”
And dominate he has. The Associated Press notes that the Jamaican runner is the most decorated athlete in world championship history. He has eight gold medals and two silvers. The 27-year-old also boasts six gold medals from previous Olympics.
Usain Bolt also hopes to retire on a high in Rio. He commented, “I’ve made up my mind that if I want to be among the greats of Ali, Pele and all these guys I have to continue dominating until I retire.”
That could be difficult, considering he already owns the world record in the 100 meter and 200 meter races. He also shares the 4×100 with his teammates. While Bolt has said his 100 record of 9.58 seconds will be tough to pass, he hopes to break his 200 record of 19.19, which he ran in Berlin four years ago.
As for what Usain Bolt will do once he retires? We’re betting only he knows that one.
[Image via Ververidis Vasilis / Shutterstock.com ]
