Usain Bolt exclusive on Paris 2024: 'That's what I am excited about'
The Jamaican sprint legend was the special guest for the presentation of the next Olympic and Paralympic torch on the Seine in Paris.
Usain Bolt is ready return to the Games, although this time as a spectator, for Paris 2024.
And in the meantime, the eight-time Olympic gold medallist is relishing the opportunity to be back on the Olympic stage and experience the thrill of being in front of a crowd once again.
“I am going to be here and that’s what I am excited about,” he told Olympics.com in Paris, where he joined the celebrations of One Year To Go until the 2024 Games.
Bolt is also looking forward to watching the event next year: “To be in the stadium and see it live,” he added.
The world record holder for the 100m and 200m events was the second person to receive the Paris 2024 Olympics torch at the Eiffel Tower on Tuesday 25 July. The first person to receive it was Tony Estanguet, President of the Paris 2024 Organising Committee.
“I’m very happy to be here and feel the energies. Paris has always been a city that I enjoyed competing and hanging out in. I’m excited for the Olympics next year. I’ll be here with my family.”
The Jamaican legend, who retired after the after the 2017 World Athletics Championships, was absent in Tokyo, the first time he was not present at a Summer Olympic Games since Athens 2004.
Usain Bolt on his favourite hobby and the 2023 World Championships
When Lamont Marcell Jacobs won the Olympic title in Tokyo, Bolt wished he was there. He thought he could have medalled, but that has since changed. Watching the races that he is not involved in isn’t so hard any more.
The 36-year-old is now happily retired, with no wish to return to racing or pursue a career as a football player, something he considered after retiring from track and field in 2017. Training rarely features on the agenda of the sprint king.
“Training? It’s now and off,” he confessed. “Gym sometimes, and then sometimes I just walk a couple of miles with my friends in the morning.
“The best part of my day is hanging out with my kids and seeing them grow, and it’s always [good] seeing them doing new things and seeing them grow, you wake up, and they are taller.”
The father of three- a daughter and twin boys - is now very much a family man.
He still loves competing, though, and winning but in a classic board game.
“[When competing] I could play dominoes but not whenever I wanted,” he said.
“I am playing a lot of dominoes, staying up late and eating too much junk.”
He is happy to sit back and watch all the action now.
Bolt is looking forward to the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest, a great opportunity for the athletes, he reckons, to test themselves ahead of the Paris 2024 Games.
“The World Championships gives them a baseline to see where they are at on what they need to do and where they need to be at.
“It was very important for me because as it gives me confidence that when you go to the World Championships then you feel good about yourself, knowing that in one year’s time you’ll be in good shape. You are on the right track!”
Bolt, who won 11 world championships gold medals, is hopeful that the upcoming generation of Jamaican men sprinters can step in and shine in the sprints.
He remains full of admiration for his fellow compatriots Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Elaine Thompson-Herah and Shericka Jackson who continue to dominate the women's sprints.
“I think the girls are dominating and showing that they are really are fast, and they are doing ever so well,” he shared.
“The [Jamaican] young men are now coming back, I see one or two youngsters really stepping up, so that’s a plus. I think in a couple of years we’ll be back on top.”
After joining the Paris One Year To Go celebration and riding on a boat on the Seine river, where the Opening Ceremony of the Olympics Games will take place, he can’t wait to get back to relive another Olympic experience.
“I think it’s gonna be one of the best, if not the best Opening Ceremony. Imagine everybody standing outside, across the bridges cheering people up. It was never done before…I just want to sit back and enjoy…”