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LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 05: Justin Gatlin of the United States is congratulated by Usain Bolt of Jamaica following his win in the Men’s 100 metres final in 9.92 seconds during day two of the 16th IAAF World Athletics Championships London 2017 at The London Stadium on August 5, 2017 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
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LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 05: Justin Gatlin of the United States is congratulated by Usain Bolt of Jamaica following his win in the Men’s 100 metres final in 9.92 seconds during day two of the 16th IAAF World Athletics Championships London 2017 at The London Stadium on August 5, 2017 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
8 time Gold Medalist, Usain Bolt, is the fastest man on earth. With many World Championships to his name, he is the athlete everyone looks up to.
Being on top, it is only natural that Bolt has rivals in the game. Justin Gatlin, Bolt’s fellow teammate, is considered one of his biggest competitors. In Bolt’s last race in 2017, where he, unfortunately, tore his hamstring, it was Gatlin who won the Gold medal.
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Recently in an interview, Justin Gatlin talked about his supposed rivalry with Usain Bolt. He also clarified the rumors about Usain Bolt hating him.
Gatlin said,?“Well, you know, I don’t even know what the confusion is when it comes to him not liking me, but I know that when you are at the top and you are competing for the best and you have a rival, you tend not to like them so much and sometimes you have to not like them to be able to fuel that fire that you have against them.”
READ MORE: 4 Years After Retirement, Usain Bolt Finally Reveals Why He Lost His Last Race
“I think one thing that we have for each other is that respect that when I compete against him I am going to bring my a game and he knew that as well and I knew that when he came I always envisioned that this was going to be a 9-5 Usain regardless of which shape he was is,” added Gatlin.
Usain Bolt inspired Justin Gatlin to be his very best
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When it comes to athletics, Usain Bolt has shown the world the way. He has conquered all that he could conquer. Bolt’s 2009 record of 100 m in 9.58 seconds at the Berlin World Championships is still unconquered.
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RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – AUGUST 14: Usain Bolt of Jamaica points to the sky before winning the Men’s 100 meter final on Day 9 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium on August 14, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
Athletes around the world look up to him. It is no surprise that even for his rival, Justin Gatlin; Bolt is one of the biggest inspirations.
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“Late-season early-season regular race uh championship race finals I always envision that I’m going to run against a guy who’s going to or capable of running so I always had that respect for him and like I said it always brought the best out of me I feel like sometimes I had to run for my life and it set me up to be the best athlete I could be,” said Gatlin.
In Bolt’s last race, he tore his hamstring; while other athletes ran past him. It marked the end of his career. But the Gold medalist Justin Gatlin paid Bolt a tribute by bowing down to him, recognizing him as indeed the GOAT of track and field.
