Usain Bolt Says Rio 2016 Will Be His Final Olympic Games

Rio 2016 will be the six-time Olympic champion’s final strides under the five rings, but creating history and retaining the three gold medals he won at his last two outings and lowering his 19.19 200m world record, remain very much at the top of his to-do list here.

In light of those missed weeks of training and some rust around the edges, super-fast times are probably unlikely for Bolt in Rio but, as ever, he remained supremely optimistic.

Bolt was the star attraction at the Jamaica Olympic Association (JOA) Puma press conference held yesterday in Rio, and the triple record holder looked relaxed as he danced, joked around and even took selfies. Or, more accurately, 20 minutes of softballing questions from the hundreds of the world’s media, in which the Jamaican sprinter was told “Your way of dealing with the pressure makes Brazilian people want to marry you a little more”, and rapped to by a Norwegian journalist, who also told Bolt he was in love with him.

Bolt, 29, again confirmed he is competing in his final Olympics. While taking a victory lap, a multitasking photographer slammed into the back of Bolt’s legs with his scooter.

Bolt takes to the track Saturday for opening rounds of the 100 meters.

Bolt holds the world records for 100m and 200m races, 9.58 for 100m and 19.19 for 200m, and has revealed his desire to break the 200m record.

“The 100m is never stressful”, Bolt said.

“For me I go out there to compete and wow the crowd and entertain”. “That’s what people come out and see”. They like it when I do insane stuff. “I try to entertain and make it different, help people enjoy it”.

Bolt also talked about the drug scandals surrounding this year’s Olympics.

“We were walking towards the start line when the athletes emerged, and I remember seeing Bolt walking over – he’s huge in real life – and he just said ‘what’s up”, as he put his shoes and bag in the box. “I think this is the last one for sure”.

“I never pick out one person”, he said. We have to go through a rough time before we get to the good times.

Bolt clocked 19.89 seconds in 200m at the Anniversary Games in London in July in his first appearance since pulling out of the Jamaican trials. “Michael Johnson’s world record lasted for 12 years, until Usain Bolt ran 19.30 seconds to win gold at the Beijing Olympics”.

Still, why not aim high?

He added: “I really want it, I really, really want that one”.

Somehow, he had managed to set a world record (then 9.69 seconds) and announce himself as an worldwide superstar without going full speed for the entire race.

“For me, it’s always to work toward your goal”, he said.