Usain Bolt: "I don't think anyone is near my records"
The retired Jamaican sprinter and footballer also said he thinks Cristiano Ronaldo is faster than him in retirement.
Eight-time Olympic champion and the 100m and 200m world record holder Usain Bolt says he does not see his records being broken anytime soon.
Speaking publicly for the first time since the Jamaican Ministry of Health announced he had tested positive for Covid in summer, the Jamaican told Marca that while the future of athletics was "in good hands", "I don't think anyone is near my records."
The sprinter, who switched to football after his track career and trained with clubs in Europe, Africa, and Australia, also said he believed Cristiano Ronaldo was faster than him under the present circumstances, in his own retirement while Ronaldo continues playing for Juventus.
On his records
While Bolt expects stars like Noah Lyles to dominate athletics in the coming years, he expects it will take time for his records – 9.58 seconds over 100m and 19.19 seconds over 200m – to fall.
"I think no one will get to my records (soon)," he said. "I don't think anyone is near my records.
"The level that took me to my records was a long way and took a lot of effort. My physical attributes, the fact that I'm tall, really helped. I think it's going to take a while until someone gets there."
Who's faster? "Cristiano for sure"
A retired Bolt and an active Cristiano Ronaldo. Who's faster?
"For sure Cristiano," Bolt said without hesitating. "He works out every day, for me he's a super athlete.
"He's always on top of his game, he works out, he's focussed. Right now I think he would be faster than me."
Bolt also spoke of his football adventure, which saw him train with Norwegian side Strømsgodset, Bundesliga team Borussia Dortmund, and South Africa's Mamelodi Sundowns, before he ended up playing a few friendlies in Australia.
"Personally I feel like if I'd stayed in Europe, I think I would have done much better.
"My thought was going to Australia, far from the media, far from everybody, that it would help me, less stress and pressure.
"But it didn't work out – I feel like if I'd stayed in Europe I would have gotten a lot more help and a lot more push."