Nine years after retiring from professional track and field, the world’s fastest man, Usain Bolt, has hinted at a surprising potential return—this time to cricket. The eight-time Olympic gold medallist, who dominated sprinting for over a decade, revealed that he might take up cricket if the opportunity arises, recalling a long-held childhood dream of becoming a fast bowler.
Bolt’s early sporting ambitions were rooted in cricket. As a child in Jamaica, he aspired to follow in the footsteps of his father, a passionate cricket enthusiast. He even played football and other sports, but cricket remained his primary focus. His high school cricket coach, however, recognised Bolt’s exceptional speed and advised him to explore track and field, setting him on the path to athletic superstardom.
“I retired from professional sport with joy and satisfaction,” Bolt told Esquire ahead of the Doha Marathon. “I haven’t played cricket in many years, but if Jamaica’s cricket team calls, I would be ready to return.”
The timing is noteworthy, as cricket will make a return to the Olympic stage at the Los Angeles Games after a 128-year hiatus. Jamaica is expected to field a team, and the prospect of Bolt joining has sparked excitement among fans.
Reflecting on his past, Bolt admitted during a promotional event in India that had he not pursued sprinting, cricket would have been his career. “I definitely would have been a cricketer. If my coach hadn’t told me to try sprinting, I would have stayed in cricket. My father loved the game, and that’s all I knew growing up,” he said.
Bolt’s athletic prowess made him a natural candidate for fast bowling. “I was a fast bowler, and my coach noticed my speed and asked, ‘Why not try track and field?’ I gave it a go and excelled. I had the talent, and I pursued it fully,” Bolt recalled.
Despite stepping away from the track, Bolt’s legacy endures. He still holds world records in the 100m, 200m, and 4×100m relay, with times of 9.58 seconds and 19.19 seconds in the 100m and 200m, respectively—benchmarks that remain unbeaten.
| Event | Record | Year | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100m | 9.58 sec | 2009 | Berlin |
| 200m | 19.19 sec | 2009 | Berlin |
| 4×100m relay | 36.84 sec | 2012 | London |
While his sprinting career may be firmly in the history books, Bolt’s potential foray into cricket demonstrates the enduring versatility and sporting spirit of one of the greatest athletes of all time.
