Before the Paris Olympics, Noah Lyles made some bold claims about breaking Usain Bolt‘s record. But Bolt warned him and said, “I must say. It’s not going to be easy. I feel like Noah feels like it’s easy running both events. It was never easy.” However, despite claiming the gold medal in the 100m in Paris, he didn’t quite manage to eclipse Bolt’s legendary achievements. But it now seems that Bolt is confident that a certain Manchester star can break it.

We all know Bolt as one of the fastest men in Olympic history, who consistently broke records and left his competitors in the dust. Standing tall at 6-foot-5, his unique combination of size and speed even caught the attention of NFL teams looking for a speedy wideout to enhance their rosters.

After Bolt hung up his sprinting spikes, he took a shot at a completely different sport: professional football. He even received a contract offer in Australia but ultimately decided against pursuing a career as a pro footballer. In a 2016 interview with Dan Patrick, he revealed that NFL teams were interested in signing him. Still, he turned them down. “I’ve never really thought about going,” Bolt said. “But I’ve gotten offers and people have asked me.” While he didn’t name any specific teams, he made it clear that his main reason for not making the jump was the physical toll the sport takes on players.

Bolt’s hesitation is rooted in his genuine fear of injury. He shared, “I used to watch [football] when I was younger, and the hits that the guys used to take. … I know that it is not as bad now, but the hits that the guys would take kind of turned me off.” Even the fastest man in the world understands the risks of playing in the NFL, highlighting just how important it is to prioritize health and safety. Since Usain Bolt retired in 2017, his records have remained unbroken, but it seems there may finally be someone capable of challenging them.

Usain Bolt is a dedicated Manchester United supporter. Unsurprisingly, he’s often been playfully challenged to races by players at the club’s Carrington training facility. But Bolt acknowledged in an interview with talkSPORT that Marcus Rashford, an English professional footballer who plays as a forward for Premier League club Manchester United and the England national team, might actually outrun him over a short distance. He mentioned that Rashford is “quick out the blocks” and could definitely beat him in a 20-yard dash, though he would regain the advantage after that.

This raises an interesting question: could any cross-sport athlete actually beat Bolt? It’s worth considering that Bolt himself wasn’t always a fan of track and field; he was pretty good at other sports too, so you never know how those skills might have played out!

Usain Bolt’s surprising early dreams

Usain Bolt once dreamed of becoming a cricketer before he became the sprinting legend we know today. Bolt’s passion for cricket stemmed from its popularity in the West Indies, but he faced some hurdles due to the political climate within Jamaican cricket. His dad, Wellesley Bolt, played a key role in guiding him toward athletics and understanding the challenges of the sport at the time. Bolt recalled, “It was actually my dad who made the decision that I would commit to track and field once I went to high school.” He recognized that running would give his son a better shot at success.

But the International Cricket Council (ICC) brought him on as their ambassador to promote the upcoming T20 Cricket World Cup 2024. With his massive global appeal, Bolt is the perfect person to help connect cricket with American audiences. But do you know he even bowled out Chris Gayle once?

Back in 2009, at a mini-tournament held at the Kaiser Sports Ground, Bolt showcased his impressive bat-and-ball coordination. He stepped up to the crease and launched a six off the bowling of West Indies team captain Chris Gayle, racking up 13 runs before, ironically, getting run out while dashing for a single. But Bolt wasn’t finished yet. He took to the field and showed off his bowling skills, even taking the wicket of Gayle, who usually opens for the West Indies.

Even though Usain Bolt has now stepped away from the track, his impact is still felt today, and with rising stars like Noah Lyles and Marcus Rashford making waves, it’ll be exciting to see who might step up and take a shot at breaking his incredible records.