Many have sprinted through the spotlight in track and field, but one name towers above them all: Usain Bolt. The Jamaican icon ruled the track with an iron fist and fast feet, winning eight Olympic golds and never losing a single event. Dominance? That’s an understatement. Bolt wasn’t just winning; he was redefining what it meant to be fast.

And let’s be real—his challengers weren’t exactly pushovers. He faced off against some serious heavyweights like Yohan Blake, Tyson Gay, and Justin Gatlin. These guys weren’t just there to make up the numbers; they were trying to snatch his crown. But despite all the competition, Bolt remained unfazed. He had a way of brushing off any attempt to rattle him, and nobody tested that more than Justin Gatlin.

On the High Performance podcast, Bolt didn’t hold back on how Gatlin tried every trick in the book to throw him off. “For me, it’s always fun; I enjoy watching Justin,” Bolt said. “It’s fun for me to see him in his element because he does this thing where he walks back and forth like a crazy person. You know, he’s serious, and I always find it so funny and amusing because that’s his way of psyching himself up.” Yep, Gatlin’s intense pre-race pacing was his not-so-subtle way of saying, “I’m coming for you.” But Bolt? He just found it hilarious. “I always knew if I was prepared, there was no way you were going to beat me. So I was always relaxed and ready to go.” Even when Gatlin took it up a notch, Bolt stayed chill.

Take their first showdown in Zagreb, for instance. Talk about drama—Gatlin walked right up and spit across Bolt’s lane. A bold move, but it barely made Bolt blink. “The first time I met him, we were in—I think it was Zagreb—and we were competing. You know, when you warm up and you’re running out your blocks, I was walking back, and he was walking towards me, and he kind of spit across the lane in front of me.” So what did Bolt do?

“I laughed because I knew what he was trying to do. But for me, it doesn’t matter; all that matters is that when we line up and that gun goes, you better be ready, because you’re not going to intimidate me by spitting across the lane,” recounted Bolt. Gatlin’s antics showed just how badly he wanted to dethrone the king. But did it work? Not a chance. Years later, Gatlin even admitted that their rivalry pushed him to be better. “After we left the sport, there was a realisation that Bolt helped me become a better athlete, and vice-versa,” Gatlin reflected.

And that’s the thing—no matter what psychological warfare they tried, Bolt was always one step (or a few meters) ahead. Did you know there was one race between these two where Gatlin was left reeling with emotion?

Justin Gatlin’s emotional outburst after facing Usain Bolt in 2015

One of the most thrilling races of all time would come to take place during the 2015 IAAF World Championship in Beijing, the final of 100m. Usain Bolt was ready for competition when Justin Gatlin gazed forward to getting his medal. The event turned out to deliver even more excitement and adrenaline than the spectators themselves had expected. The winner of the race ended with a time of 9.79 seconds, while the second-placed competitor ended his race just 0.1 second later. So, who won? Usain Bolt.

Despite facing an incredibly tough challenge from Justin, he was eventually able to barely cross the finish line before him, winning the gold medal. But the US athlete couldn’t hold his emotions back in after being defeated despite a brilliant performance. “I’ve spoken of that race that was the first one to take emotions out of me,” the athlete would admit later years down the road on his podcast Ready Set Go.

That race wasn’t just another showdown; it was one that truly cracked his usually tough exterior. There’s no question Gatlin secured his place among the greats of track and field. His legacy is one of fierce competition and breathtaking performances. But despite his best efforts, he never managed to surpass the untouchable legend of Usain Bolt.