Eight-time Olympic gold medalist Usain Bolt has revealed that since retiring from sprinting, even climbing a flight of stairs now leaves him struggling for breath.
The 39-year-old Jamaican, who still holds the world records in the 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay, told reporters at the World Athletics Championships that he no longer runs after suffering a ruptured Achilles, relying instead on gym workouts.
“No, I mostly do gym workouts. I’m not a fan, but I think now that I’ve been out for a while, I have to actually start running because, when I walk up stairs, I get out of breath,” Bolt said. “I think when I start working on it fully again, I will probably have to do some laps just to get my breathing right.”
Reflecting on life after track, Bolt said his daily routine now revolves around family time, workouts when in the mood, watching series and movies, and a newfound passion for Lego.
Asked why the current generation of sprinters hasn’t matched his era despite advances in technology, Bolt replied: “You want the real answer? We’re just more talented. That’s all I’m saying… Of course, it shows when it comes to the men. You can see the women are different. They’re running faster times. So it shows – it has to be the talent.”
He also hailed fellow Jamaican Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, noting that even with improved spikes, her faster times still reflect natural ability: “It’s just the talent. We were way more talented men over that time. It shows if you look at it.”