Why Did Usain Bolt Retire, In 2017, the greatest sprinter of all time in most quarters worldwide Usain Bolt announced his retirement from athletics. With Bolt having ruled his sport for close to ten years, with world records and Olympic and World championship golds in abundance he left the track in London 2017 Saturday.
That decision was spawned from a myriad of reasons; his health, certainly played some role in it, but also what he hoped to do past athletics. Read: The reasons behind Bolt’s retirement: Full Article
Why Did Usain Bolt Retire: Physical Challenges and Age
Usain Bolt confirmed his retirement and declining athleticism are an even bigger part of the reason he stopped racing competitively so long before looking to reclaim either one.
Bolt retired at the age of 30, not especially ancient but fairly long in the tooth for a sprinter who had reached unparalleled heights. Bolt had spent most of the past few years battling various injuries, mainly with hamstring woes.
Besides having obvious performance implications, those injuries caused GSP to struggle with maintaining the necessary level of training and preparation in order to perform at a top rank.
His last race in the 2017 World Championships concluded with him pulling up injured on the anchor leg of Jamaica’s 4×100 meters relay, having run his final individual race. It was a moment where his body strength took over and it was very likely part of what helped him decide to retire.
In his statement Bolt said that ‘over the next three days we hope to make another incredible memory,’ however he also admitted on Saturday night: “Over my career, I’ve had many setbacks and problems but this year in particular, I don’t think it has been.
Why Did Usain Bolt Retire: Retire on a high knot
Also weighing on Bolt’s mind was his wish to step away from the sport while he remains among the planet’s elite. Bolt was already the most successful sprinter in history with eight Olympic gold medals and 11 world titles.
He held world records for the 100 and 200 metres which have set but were never broken. In retiring as medal-less (excluding 2 that were stripped due to doping), but still the fastest man alive, Bolt surely achieved a legacy with less risk of being muddied by future declines in speed.
One of the most difficult choices facing an athlete in any sport is when to retire — either go out on top or struggle toward division 3 oblivion. Had he carried on, Bolt risked surrendering his crown to the next generation and possibly blurring memories of his dominance in the sprint.
Why Did Usain Bolt Retire: Pursuit of New Challenges
Off the track, Bolt had always hinted at devoting his post-running life to other interests. Foremost among them was his wish to become a professional footballer, an ambition he achieved following his retirement from athletics.
Trials with various football clubs, such as Borussia Dortmund (Germany) and Central Coast Mariners (Australia). Oke was never going to try his luck in professional football but, as he looks back on those days without regret, they show that sprinting offered something different and new.
Before long, Bolt’s charisma and international appeal helped open pathways in entertainment, business even philanthropy. He has since gone on to open his own chain of restaurants, create a champagne brand and become heavily involved in charitable endeavors both at home in Jamaica.
Stepping back from athletics presented Bolt with the opportunity to move into these areas whilst not being tied down by a grueling training and competing regime.
Legacy and Impact
The decision to retire was taken after due consideration, also a powerful move as it would ensure that Bolt leaves the stage only at his peak. Bolt has changed the face of sprinting based on his speed never seen before, stride style, and a larger-than-life personality to go with it.
He became an international icon who transcended sports and represented the best of the human spirit–excellence, perseverance, and sheer joy in competing.
Bolt decided to quit while he was ahead, thus creating a seemingly insurmountable record for fans and the next generation. His world records have not been surpassed, and he walked away from the sport a legend — having proven many times over that with his superlative speed coupled with that big race mentality.)
Bolt’s choice of retirement was not just about protecting his legacy but also required in response to the physical and personal hurdles he had faced.
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Conclusion
Usain Bolt retired because his body would not allow him to perform at the level he desired, wanted to go out on top, explore new opportunities in life, and most importantly save an unmatched legacy. However, his retirement left fans and fellow athletes understandably disappointed on one hand because he had already done everything you could possibly do in the sport.
Bolt steps away from running not just the fastest but also as a definition of what it is to be world-class, in every sense. It was a statement of victory, declaring to the sport he had lit up for nearly two decades that they may have been turning it on wrong all this time.
