Usain Bolt reveals plans to retire in 2017 - but not before a final swansong at the Olympic Stadium in London

It had been thought the Jamaican sprinter would end his career after the 2016 Olympics

Agency
Saturday 14 February 2015 18:50 GMT
Comments
Usain Bolt
Usain Bolt (GETTY IMAGES)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Usain Bolt has set his sights on a winning swansong at the World Athletics Championships in London in 2017.

The six-time Olympic sprint champion had suggested that the Games in Rio in 2016 would be his last but he now appears to have changed his mind, with a final competitive visit to the stadium where he won three golds in 2012 on the agenda.

"That was the initial plan (to sign off after Rio)," he told the Daily Mail. "But my sponsor has asked me to go on for another year; to 2017 and London.

"But I'll be doing one event, the 100. I've already discussed it with my coach. I can concentrate on that, and on retiring on a winning note."

Bolt will head to this year's World Championships in Beijing looking to add to his haul of eight world golds and the 28-year-old also has one eye on breaking his own world record.

Bolt set the 100 metres record of 9.58 in Berlin in 2009 and is hopeful that elite competition can spur him to his best again.

"Well, it takes races," he said. "But if everything goes well this season... in my life anything is possible. If I can get myself in good shape, it should be wonderful this season.

"I live for competition. I thrive on competition. I live to compete against the best.

"It means a lot when you beat the best. I remember when I won in Beijing, people were saying how Tyson (Gay) wasn't there.

"So for me the World Championship the following year, when everyone was there, that was good."

PA

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in