Since Usain Bolt‘s retirement in 2017, the track and field world has witnessed the rise of several athletes who have been dubbed the ‘next Usain Bolt’. At first, the American sprinter Erriyon Knighton attracted a lot of comparisons because of his legit performances in the 200m events. In the age-based contests, the then-teenage phenom did better compared to the Jamaican legend. Later, Gout Gout, the Australian high school runner, invited a lot of voices supporting him to be Bolt’s successor. Meanwhile, Letsile Tebogo also came closer to the eight-time Olympic champion. The credit goes to his extraordinary performance at the Paris Olympics. Yet after these appearances, Usain Bolt still holds the world records in both the 100m and 200m events in the men’s category. So where is it going for the new generation of athletes? 

According to Rodney Green, the entire comparison could go wrong. Furthermore, the Grenadian veteran supported his claim by presenting logical answers. But he left something for the present or upcoming sprint talents as their flowers. 

Usain Bolt has many things in his bag except the insurmountable records 

In the recently concluded World Athletics U20 Championships, Bayanda Walaza snagged the sprint double. Among those hardware, the 200m gold came, defeating Gout Gout, the much-touted Usain Bolt. So, naturally, the comparison followed him, seeing the former world champion in him. But Rodney Green tried to put a lid on such comparisons. Rather, in the Ready Set Go podcast, he laid out, “Let’s stop measuring these people up to these high end accolades.” As per him, instead of bringing in motivation because of such “high end accolades,”  it could invite a dampener. 

The staggering comparison could nip the bud and press the athletes under a mountainous expectation. So, Green suggested, “Let’s just enjoy them for what they are. They ran fast and let’s just enjoy them.” He said this because he knows that only speed on the track for a phase can’t make any athlete sit alongside Bolt. In the same tête-à-tête with Justin Gatlin and Erin Brown, Green spilled some invaluable words regarding the maestro. 

From the 2008 Beijing Olympics to the 2016 Rio Olympics (just one year before his retirement), Usain Bolt had an undisputed run in the short-distance sprint events. He managed to post stunning times in those events, and some of those still stand today. Moreover, at the junior level, Bolt had displayed similar flares. At 16 years of age, he shortened the 200m world record at the U19 level to 20.13 seconds. Next year, he came back with more fire in his belly. 

This time, he tore down the 20-second barrier in the 200m event by setting new timing, 19.93 seconds in the U19 level. This level of dominance demands a lot of mettle. And that came without taking any long breaks in his career. Therefore, terming someone as ‘the next Bolt’ wouldn’t do well. Rather, it could be like throwing the talents under a task that would never meet the success level. “Let Tebogo be Tebogo, not the next Bolt,” Rodney said, worrying about the present situation. But he may feel delighted knowing Tebogo’s thoughts on chasing Usain Bolt. 

Letsile Tebogo values the timely approach of chasing the monument

In recent times, Letsile Tebogo has come into the discussion several times as being ‘the next Usain Bolt’. He has medals from the World Athletics Championships. He has the 300m world record in the men’s category. And now he has the Olympic gold from the 200m event, defeating Noah Lyles, the widely regarded best sprinter after Usain Bolt. But the Motswana athlete is not ready to take the huge load on his shoulders that comes with the comparison.

In March this year, the 21-year-old said, “I am not part of the team that is chasing the world record. For now, is just keep on rolling.” By conceding those lines, he sided himself with Noah Lyles, who had claimed to tear apart Bolt’s records and establish new ones. However, even after winning his biggest test on the track, Tebogo has remained firm in his mindset. 

On August 22, Letsile put in a scintillating 19.64 second-timing to win the 200m final at the Silesia Diamond League. Meanwhile, just two weeks before it, he took the Olympic crown in the 200m after posting the African record (19.64 seconds). Even so, he thinks that Bolt’s record could give him a fast heartbeat. “I see it but I don’t want to put myself under that pressure. If it comes, it will come eventually,” he clarified. Therefore, Rodney Green’s comment elevates a responsibility that should be carried out by the stakeholders, and it is the right time to ponder over that.