Eight-time Olympic gold medallist Usain Bolt has revealed that life after retirement has reminded him he is “human” again, admitting he now gets out of breath just walking up the stairs.
Speaking to reporters at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, the 39-year-old Jamaican still the world record holder in the 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay, explained that a r¥ptured achilles means he no longer runs, relying mostly on gym workouts instead.
“No, I mostly stick to gym workouts. I’m not a fan, but I think now that I’ve been out for a while, I have to start running again because, when I walk up stairs, I get out of breath,” Bolt said. “Once I get serious about it again, I’ll probably need to do some laps just to fix my breathing.”
Bolt, who retired from professional sprinting in 2017, also gave a glimpse into his daily routine, noting he spends most of his time with his children.
“Normally I wake up just in time to see the kids off to school. If I have nothing planned, I just chill, maybe work out if I’m in the mood, or watch some series until the kids get back. Then I hang out with them until they start annoying me, and after that, I just relax, watch movies or play with Lego,” he said with a laugh.
On why today’s sprinters haven’t matched the times set by his generation despite advances in technology, Bolt was blunt: “You want the real answer? We were just more talented. That’s it. You can see it especially in the men’s races. The women, on the other hand, are improving a lot and running faster times. But for the men, it comes down to talent.”
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