It’s been seven years since Usain Bolt, the Lightning Bolt himself, left the track, and honestly, it still feels like something’s missing. Fans around the world would love to see him back in action—and as it turns out, Bolt feels the same. Even though he achieved everything he set out to do, stepping away wasn’t as easy as it seemed. Watching others take the stage he once dominated hit harder than he expected. The itch to return crept in, and he admitted, “I think I should start running again.” It’s a sentiment many retired athletes know all too well.

But Bolt’s longtime coach wasn’t having it. When Usain Bolt first considered retiring, his coach made him promise it would be final—no comebacks. So, when the competitive fire reignited a couple of years later and Bolt felt he could return to racing shape, his coach stood firm. “No,” he said, closing the door on any thoughts of a comeback. And that was that. Now, Bolt has once again opened up about how challenging retirement has been, especially watching the Tokyo Games from the sidelines.

Usain Bolt gets real!

In a chat on The Jonathan Ross Show, Usain Bolt opened up about how much he misses the thrill of the sport. While he’s more than happy to skip the endless hours of training—“That I don’t miss”—it’s the competition that pulls at his heartstrings. Watching the Tokyo Olympics was a tough pill to swallow for the sprinting legend. “It was hard to watch,” he admitted, especially since the Jamaican men’s team wasn’t exactly shining.

Usain Bolt didn’t hold back, saying, “The Jamaican guys weren’t doing nothing. We were really bad, you know what I mean.” For someone who carried his nation’s hopes for years, seeing that dip in performance made the sidelines feel even lonelier. Despite stepping away from the sport, Bolt’s connection to it remains strong. “Yeah, definitely I do miss it,” he said, showing that the itch to compete never fully fades. Watching others take the stage he once owned—especially when Jamaica was struggling—only added to that feeling.

In 2021, when Jamaica’s 4x100m relay team took the track, the world held its breath, expecting the kind of magic that once seemed inevitable with Usain Bolt in the mix. But that day told a different story. The Jamaican squad finished in fourth place with a time of 37.84 seconds—a far cry from their golden era of dominance. Italy stole the spotlight, clinching victory, while Canada and China followed close behind, leaving Jamaica’s once-unshakable legacy feeling unsteady. For fans, it was a sobering reality check—and likely a tough moment for Bolt to witness. In past interviews, he’s confessed to contemplating a comeback, convinced he still has what it takes to lace up his spikes and electrify the track once more.

Is Bolt coming back?

The competitive fire within Usain Bolt still blazes bright, a spark that refuses to dim. Reflecting on his love for the sport, Bolt once confessed, “I miss the competition. When I sit and watch the World Championships or the Olympics now, your blood starts to boil. You just want to be out there.” Watching others race is a bittersweet reminder of what once was igniting memories of his electrifying sprints that left the world in awe.

In a playful moment during an interview with TalkSPORT, Bolt faced a cheeky challenge from Andy Goldstein and Darren Bent. The duo suggested a race, with Goldstein getting a head start from the halfway line. Bolt’s quick-witted response had everyone grinning as he declared, “I still have it,” before cheekily adding, “You’re looking really slow.” It was a classic Bolt moment—equal parts humor and unshakable confidence—showing that even off the track, his charisma remains unmatched.

While the idea of a comeback flickered briefly, Bolt’s deep respect for his coach’s wisdom and his own awareness of his physical limits kept those dreams at bay. Yet, his love for the sport and the thrill of competition remain unwavering. For Bolt, the discipline, passion, and joy that defined his career continue to resonate, underscoring his unbreakable connection to athletics. Even from the sidelines, he remains the soul of the sport.