Usain Bolt needs no introduction. Standing tall at 1.95 meters with his unparalleled stride, Bolt has conquered the track with his unbeaten 9.58 seconds world record in the 100 meters 16 years ago. This feat earned him the title of the world’s fastest man. Now, with the athletics world gearing up for Michael Johnson’s ambitious Grand Slam Track from April 4 in Kingston, a new generation of sprinters will try to close in on Bolt’s mythic mark. One Olympic star even made a special request to the track icon himself. But, will we see someone breaking the record and creating history at the Grand Slam track?

The Instagram page of Grand Slam Track raised the question through a post on their page. The post was the photo of track and Field legend Usain Bolt with a recent tweet from Olympic star Vernon Norwood. The caption said, “What do you think? @usainbolt #BringBoltBack Anyone got a shot at his records on that new track??” In the Grand Slam Track, athletes have been divided into six various ‘Race Groups’, each of which will run two different distances. The Kingston Slam, the first of four GST events, promises a seismic shift in track and field. With a $100,000 top prize and a roster featuring stars like Fred Kerley and Kenny Bednarek, the league aims to deliver high-stakes, head-to-head racing. One of these athletes, Vernon Norwood, is a 2x Olympic champion, and he will be competing as a challenger in long sprint slams. But he wants Usain Bolt to come to the Grand Slam at Kingston! Why?

Norwood is surely excited as he showed by inviting Usain Bolt to come to Kingston’s schedule of GST through his tweet on March 27, 2025. His tweet captioned, “Somebody tell Usain Bolt to pull up to grand slam in Kingston! Somebody might break his world records in Kingston.” Bolt’s 100-meter record, set in 2009, remains the pinnacle of sprinting, but Norwood’s 45.31-second 400-meter personal best is faster than Bolt’s 45.92-second mark in 400m from 2007 hints at a speed foundation that could have disrupted the sprinting hierarchy if he ever stepped down to the 100m.

For Bolt, who retired in 2017, this offer comes at a time when he’s focused on giving back. His Usain Bolt Foundation recently pledged $6.1 million to Jamaican schools, underscoring his commitment to the next generation. Joining GST could align with that mission, offering a platform to inspire young athletes while boosting the sport’s financial landscape. As the countdown to Kingston ticks down, all eyes are on Bolt—will he step back onto the track, even symbolically, to ignite Johnson’s vision? The sprinting world waits with bated breath.

With just a few days until the Kingston Slam kicks off on April 4-6, 2025, Johnson’s invitation to Bolt has sparked excitement and speculation about the sprinting legend’s potential role in this revolutionary track league. As GST kicks off, Bolt’s record remains the ultimate prize, but the chase is closer than ever.

Can anyone break Usain Bolt’s 100m world record at Grand Slam Track?

Vernon Norwood was confirmed as a challenger for the 200m & 400m in Grand Slam Track. But he has expectations from short-distance runners to break Usain Bolt’s 100m record. The Kingston Slam announced the names in the men’s 100-meter field, which includes a mix of four GST “Racers” and four “Challengers”. The lineup includes the names of big-star racers and challengers. But, breaking Bolt’s 9.58-second record requires peak form, ideal conditions, and a touch of magic. Among the Kingston 100m field, here’s the speculation of who could we see possibly breaking the record at Kingston.

At 29, Kerley’s 9.76-second personal best makes him the frontrunner. His 400m background (43.64 seconds, 2019) mirrors Bolt’s, and his 6-foot-3 frame offers a stride advantage. Fresh off relay action at the 2025 Texas Relays, Kerley’s early-season sharpness could yield a sub-9.70-second run in Kingston’s favorable conditions. His consistency and power give him the best shot, though shaving 0.18 seconds remains a monumental task.