Justin Gatlin has never been one to back down from a conversation about greatness, so why would he start now? The American legend sprinter and 2004 Olympic champion has lined up against some of the fastest men in history, from Maurice Greene to Tyson Gay—you name it! But no rivalry shaped his career quite like the one with Usain Bolt. Their showdowns under the floodlights, from Beijing to Rio, weren’t just races, but they were moments that defined an era. Gatlin came close, so close, but Bolt? He always found a way to stay ahead. Even now, years after their last battle, the debate isn’t over. And guess what? Gatlin’s latest comments have reignited the conversation! But something feels… off!

A video is making the rounds online, featuring what sounds like Gatlin dissecting Bolt’s dominance. “Usain Bolt wasn’t as unbeatable as everyone makes him out to be. His top-end speed was incredible, but his starts and form weren’t perfect. He was fast and dominant when he was in full flight, but if you break it down, there are flaws in his races. Don’t get me wrong,” the video said.

What did Gatlin really mean? Why did he say that? Or did he really say that? Gatlin now has responded to all such questions. Speaking on the ‘Ready Set Go’ podcast on YouTube just a day ago, which he co-hosts with Rodney Green, the 5-time Olympic medalist said, “Nah, that ain’t me. That’s crazy. If you’re listening, Usain [Bolt]—that ain’t me, bro! That ain’t me. That’s AI Justin.” Rodney Green, the co-host, was just as shocked as you might be right now!

“It sounds like you! But I don’t remember you ever giving this take,” Rodney said in disbelief. Hearing it for the first time, Gatlin was himself in disbelief. “Listen boy, where AI live at? I’m about to pull up on AI, dog. That’s crazy!” Gatlin further mentioned, “That’s crazy. You know what the crazy thing is? They did the same thing to Yohan one year too. They had Yohan in a press conference talking, but it wasn’t what Yohan was really saying, you know what I’m saying?” 

Thus, this wasn’t the only incident of fake impersonation. But for now, leaving that fake impersonation aside. Both players have been some of the fiercest rivals on the court and have shared mutual respect. Bolt won most of their duels, but Gatlin never stopped chasing, and in 2015, Gatlin came within 0.01 seconds of beating Bolt in Beijing. In 2016, Bolt edged him again in Rio. And then, in 2017, Gatlin finally won, which was Bolt’s farewell match as well. But what followed was the moment that sealed their mutual respect, when Gatlin bowed down to Bolt and Bolt? And Bolt, well, he congratulated Gatlin. Now, that’s what we call respect!

But wait, Justin Gatlin, and not the “AI Justin,” have something genuine to say!

Justin Gatlin’s Genuine Take on Young Athletes Being Compared to Usain Bolt

The track world loves a new star. Don’t they? Teenager bursts onto the scene, and instantly, the comparisons begin, “the next Bolt,” “the next Felix.” But Justin Gatlin isn’t having it. The former Olympic champion, who spent his career chasing greatness, says these labels do more harm than good.

Gatlin knows firsthand what it’s like to run in Bolt’s shadow. He was the man who pushed the Jamaican legend, who came inches away from dethroning him, and finally did in a year after Rio’s defeat in 2016. But even he refuses to put that kind of pressure on the next generation by comparing them to someone who has 8 Olympic golds and 11 World Championships!

“Let them walk their path, let them run their path,” Gatlin said on his ‘Ready Set Go’ podcast. Gatlin’s comments came after Australia’s teenage sprint sensation Gout Gout’s breakthrough last year, which also saw him surpass Bolt’s under-16 200m record. And it led to comparisons with Bolt. But Gatlin’s message is clear—“You take these young athletes, you teach them what it is to be a professional athlete, the wins, the losses, and please everybody stop saying and telling these young athletes, you’re the next great one, you’re the next [Usain Bolt], you the next [Allyson Felix] or whoever else.

Coming from a legend’s mouth, who lined up next to Bolt at his peak and felt both the thrill of victory and the weight of expectation, Gatlin’s words carry so much weight. He isn’t just speaking as a former champion, but he’s speaking as someone who knows what it’s like to be measured against history.