A prominent American sprinter is confident that no current athlete will ever surpass Usain Bolt’s unparalleled legacy in track and field.
American sprinting legend Michael Johnson has firmly rejected any idea that contemporary athletes could outdo the legendary Usain Bolt in sprinting.
Johnson, a four-time Olympic gold medalist himself, recently shared his views on the ongoing comparisons between Bolt and emerging stars such as Noah Lyles and Sha’Carri Richardson.
Despite their impressive performances, Johnson believes they fall short of dethroning the Jamaican sprint legend.
Usain Bolt, known as the ‘Lightning Bolt,’ is hailed as one of the greatest sprinters ever, boasting an unmatched eight Olympic gold medals and eleven World Championship golds from 2009 to 2015.
Even after his retirement in 2017, Bolt still holds the world records for the 100m, 200m, and 4x100m relay.
“We should probably just leave the question of who’s going to be the next Bolt. I can answer that: nobody. There’s never going to be another Usain Bolt,” Johnson told Olympics.com.
Johnson’s view encompasses not just Bolt’s records but also the unique charisma and appeal he brought to the sport.
“That doesn’t mean that there won’t be amazing personalities and feats in the sport. There will be. But Bolt was unique because he’s Usain Bolt and nobody else is going to beat him,” he added.
At the Paris Olympics 2024, Noah Lyles made a notable attempt to break Bolt’s 100m world record of 9.58 seconds but came up short, achieving his first-ever Olympic gold with a time of 9.79 seconds.
Similarly, Sha’Carri Richardson, competing in her Olympic debut, earned her first individual silver in the 200m and a gold medal in the 4x100m relay. While these accomplishments are significant, they highlight the high standards set by Bolt.
The ongoing search for ‘the next Bolt’ remains a common theme in track and field circles, reflecting the pursuit not only of exceptional athletic performance but also of a captivating and engaging global presence.
