News Americas, SAO PAULO, Brazil, Fri. Jan. 10, 2014: The World’s fastest man, Usain St. Leo Bolt insists he will hang up his running shoes at age 30.
Bolt in an exclusive interview with rio2016.com, said he will celebrate his 30th birthday at the 2016 Olympic Games closing ceremony and will retire from athletics later that year or in early 2017.
Bolt says he hope to create more history by retaining the three Olympic titles he won at both the 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games.
“My goal for Rio is to defend my Olympic titles from Beijing and London in the 100m, 200m and 4x100m. I plan to retire either after the 2016 or 2017 track and field season,” Bolt was quoted as saying. “I haven’t looked at the Rio 2016 program, but it is good to know (that my birthday coincides with the closing ceremony) and hopefully there will be many reasons to celebrate.”
Asked what he would do after, Bolt said: “After I retire from track and field, I will take some time off from all the hard training and pursue business interests and work for the Usain Bolt Foundation. And I would like to try playing football.”
Bolt also took time out to laud the Brazilian people.
“I think the Brazilian people have a lot of passion and will create a special energy in the stadium and in the city,” he said. “I’ve been to Rio twice. I was fortunate to travel by helicopter and see the wonderful landscape and beaches from the sky. It’s a wonderful place. I expect Rio will be a great party and I’m looking forward to celebrating there.”
Bolt, who has also won 10 world championship medals (eight gold, two silver) and holds the world records in the 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay, is widely considered the best sprinter of all time.
In 2013, he was named International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) male athlete of the year for the fifth time, and was also selected by the International Sports Press Association (AIPS) as best male athlete for the second consecutive year, the fourth time in total.
