In the last decade, nobody chased Usain Bolt as much as Carl Lewis did. Not on the field, as Carl Lewis had bid his sprinting spikes goodbye long before Usain Bolt took up the charge in the global arena. However, a fiery verbal exchange over off-court matters between him and Bolt created a high-tension situation. Although their heated discussions ended inconclusively, their battle over track and field achievements remains unresolved. Recently, a social media post on X brought this topic back to the forefront.

Carl Lewis couldn’t miss the post. Meanwhile, he marked his gratitude to that connoisseur and put something emotional in the reply. 

Carl Lewis proves the reason for being the all-time track and field GOAT 

The concerned X-handle, Take Me Higher, posted a thorough list of Carl Lewis’ world rankings from 1979-1996. Surprisingly, the X-handle included both his track and field rankings, giving the American legend a clear advantage over his opponents. Alongside the 100m and 200m events, Lewis also mastered the long jump, equaling the legacy of Jesse Owens, the fabled athlete whom Lewis idolized. Naturally, noticing the X-post, the 63-year-old veteran may have felt a nostalgic walk down memory lane. The proof of it remained his emotion-filled comment, “Thank you so much. This brings back so many memories.” Yet his subsequent rankings could be proven better than Usain Bolt. 

As the world ranking graph shows, Carl Lewis consistently placed himself in the top 2 rankings for the 100m from 1981 to 1991. Furthermore, in the long jump, he remained a dominant figure in the top 2 from 1981 through 1992. Usain Bolt may face a lag in this race, as the Jamaican airbender could not maintain such consistency in his athletic journey.

In his 2001-2017 athletic reign, Bolt topped the 100m world ranking four times. In the 200m, he could have an even-steven run with the veteran. However, Carl Lewis’ supremacy is more evident when considering his dominance in the long jump event, an area where Usain Bolt never competed in his professional athletic career. Lewis’ prowess in the long jump, combined with his track success, created significant ripples among communities and critics alike, solidifying his legendary status.

The unending battle between Usain Bolt and the titan 

Carl Lewis ended his career at 35, winning his fourth Olympic long jump medal. Having barely missed witnessing Jesse Owens in the 1940s, the new age of track and field found a modern equivalent in Lewis. However, a young Jamaican rising star wasn’t ready to change his idol.

Usain Bolt’s meteoric rise in the 2008 Olympics did not impress Carl Lewis. Rather, he sniffed something different. “Countries like Jamaica do not have a random (drugs testing) program, so they can go months without being tested. I’m not saying anyone is on anything, but everyone needs to be on a level playing field”, he explained. After that, a raged Usain Bolt could only say that he had no respect left for Carl Lewis, although he idolized Jesse Owens. 

In the next several years, the verbal battle witnessed several forms, but Usain could never generate respect for Carl in himself. Later, a moment came into effect when Carl was questioned over his probable race with Bolt. But he made sure that he had no fight left with the Jamaican on the track. Rather, the admission of “He’s gotta beat my paper” remained thought-provoking. 

Meanwhile, in 2017, the American champion stirred the pot again by calling Usain Bolt replaceable. However, in the same breath, he minutely attached, “Men will all come and go but the sport will always remain”. Even 28 years after his last Olympic gold victory, fans still feel those lines to be surreal.