It seems to be that age is not going to be stopping the juggernaut Usain Bolt anytime soon. He’s spread his net wide and catching the choicest fishes he can. Now, that net has entered the world of cricket. For the uninitiated, he was a pretty gifted cricketer before veering his focus towards the stomping grounds. Kind of puts things into perspective as to how he would have fared had he gone the cricketing route. The legendary sprinter has been appointed as the ambassador, for the upcoming ICC Mens T20 World Cup. The tournament is set to be held from June 1 to 29 and co-hosted by the West Indies and the United States.
Bolt, known as the fastest man alive will bring his love for cricket and global fame to make this tournament a memorable experience, for all involved. Whilst trying to give back to his first love, he’s also made a brother from another mother in the process. Alongside Bolt, another Caribbean sports icon, Chris Gayle has captivated the world stage with his left-handed batting prowess. With Bolt’s cricketing duties to be eschewed shortly, he has also effectively subdued a passive aggressive threat from Gayle in the process. Harkening back to a video of the same, how exactly does the parable go for the frenemies?
Usain Bolt killed two birds with one stone
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The world champion sprinter Usain Bol’s first love was cricket. However, in 2009 he returned to his first love cricket, and showed that he certainly knows how to handle both bat and ball. During a charity match near his hometown of Trelawny, Bolt showcased his bowling skills by bowling out none other than West Indies opening batsman Chris Gayle. This memorable moment resurfaced when Bolt recently reminisced about it, reigniting interest in their friendly rivalry.
I’m just gonna leave this right here for the fans to decide @henrygayle 🤫 pic.twitter.com/IhDx5XDVkj
— Usain St. Leo Bolt (@usainbolt) April 24, 2024
Gayle, when asked about his dismissal by Bolt, recounted the jovial atmosphere of the charity match, admitting, “Usain Bolt got me out in the charity game. I invited him to the game as well. He bowled a pretty good bouncer, yeah, I’m not gonna lie.” Despite the competitive edge, Gayle emphasized the fun spirit of the game, describing how he initially focused on enjoying the moment before eventually succumbing to Bolt’s delivery. However, Bolt offered a different perspective, pointing to the incontrovertible evidence on YouTube, stating, “It’s on YouTube, that’s all there. You can’t deny that.”
Gayle, adding to the narrative, revealed the wager he made with Bolt, asserting, “I said to him it’s like this. You get me out, I want a race on the track. Till this day, he’s still scared of me. Doesn’t want to see my 100-meter track.” When questioned about Bolt’s potential acceptance of the challenge, Gayle humorously dismissed the notion, quipping, “But I don’t even tell you that you would take him on it. All you have seen is a lot of dust and the universe boss just going down the stretch.”
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The banter persisted as Bolt chimed in, remarking, “We’ve seen Chris; Chris doesn’t do quick sprints or anything.” Yet, in a challenge-laden tone, Chris retorted, “Get your spikes ready, I’m ready. If you want to bring any other athlete, Yohan, Asafa, anyone. Somebody’s got to come forth.”
Through their playful exchange, Bolt and Gayle epitomize the camaraderie and competitive spirit that transcend the boundaries of sport. Yet, it’s worth noting that their exchange was part of a promotional video, capped off by Bolt’s playful challenge to the fans with, “I’m just gonna leave this right here for the fans to decide @henrygayle.” However, looking at Bolt’s journey it seems his record can never be broken.
Bolt: Sealing Olympic immortality with the Triple-Triple
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Bolt etched his name in Olympic history at the 2016 Rio Games by securing the ‘Triple-Triple’—a remarkable feat of clinching three gold medals in three consecutive Olympic Games. His unmatched prowess as the greatest sprinter of all time solidified as he clinched gold in the 100m, 200m, and 4x100m events.
Having set world records in each discipline with times of 9.58 seconds, 19.19 seconds, and 36.84 seconds, respectively—records that remain unbroken to this day. Bolt’s journey prompts curiosity about the potential shifts he might instigate in the sports realm following his illustrious track career. It will surely be interesting to see how his best friend continues to support him.