The 100m and 200m world record-holder on why he is nervous to watch the action from the stands, how the Jamaicans will get on and why Gout Gout needs to be nurtured.
Usain Bolt is no stranger to major global championships.
An eight-time Olympic and 11-time world champion, he dominated sprinting for almost a decade, drew in sell-out crowds across the globe and, ultimately, transcended the sport.
Since retiring in 2017, Bolt hasn’t watched an abundance of athletics meets from the stands, but in Tokyo he will witness the action inside the Japan National Stadium.
“I’m excited to actually watch the championships, feel the energy and see the vibe,” says Bolt, speaking at a PUMA event in Tokyo. “I’ve never seen it from this angle before. You’d think it’s more relaxing but I actually think it’s more stressful watching my Jamaican teammates compete. I’m going to be so nervous watching them.
Bolt believes that Kishane Thompson and Oblique Seville – the pair are the quickest (9.75) and joint-fifth (9.83) fastest sprinters in the world this season – have the potential to go 1-2 in the men’s 100m in Tokyo.
While Jamaica have had two men on the 100m podium in the history of the championships (Berlin 2009 and Moscow 2013), the country has never secured both gold and silver in the event.
“It’s all about if they can execute their races,” Bolt says. “Don’t listen to the noise and just focus on your own lane. There’s no reason why they can’t be one and two as they’ve been competing for a while. I’m very confident for them.”
Bolt also praises Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce for her longevity. At the 2007 World Athletics Championships in Osaka, a then 20-year-old Shelly-Ann Fraser travelled to Japan as a reservist in the Jamaican 4x100m team. After running in the heats, the sprinter was eligible for a silver medal.
At those same championships, Bolt secured the 200m silver medal behind Tyson Gay. One year later in Beijing, both Bolt and Fraser-Pryce won 100m gold.
“She’s been so great for such a long time,” Bolt says. “We came up together and won Olympic and world championships titles back-to-back. She’s brilliant for the sport and I can’t speak more highly of her. The longevity that she’s shown tells me ‘I could have done it’! She’s retiring this year and I was saying to her ‘about time as you’re making me look bad’.
One athlete who Bolt cannot wait to watch in Tokyo is teenage sprint sensation and Australian 200m record-holder Gout Gout.
Given Gout has a personal best of 20.02 and will be making is world championships debut in the Japanese capital, there is no doubt the 17-year-old will be under the microscope from the world’s media. Bolt, who ran 20.13 as a 16-year-old in 2003 and knows what it was like to break through at such a young age, provides a warning to the youngster about the step up to the seniors.
“He’s very talented,” Bolt adds. “He’s really come through well and you love to see it. You want athletes to come through that help make track and field bigger. It’s about getting everything right through the age groups.
“I used to do great things when I was younger but the transition to senior level is always tough. It’s about getting the right coach and people around you. A lot of factors will contribute to him being a great.”
