Usain Bolt On How Partying Helped Him Balance Life and Sprinting

Jamaican sprinting legend Usain Bolt has reflected on his record-breaking career, life beyond the track, and the personal choices that shaped him.

The eight-time Olympic gold medalist, who still holds the 100m and 200m world records, retired in 2017 but continues to inspire fans worldwide.

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Now 39, Bolt admits that while his legacy is rooted in discipline and extraordinary natural ability, it was also his unique lifestyle balance that kept him mentally sharp during his competitive years.

“Partying helped me. I was never the person to just work. I needed to go out, have a good time and vibe. If I didn’t have that, I would go crazy,” he said, explaining how off-track enjoyment was vital to his mental balance.

Bolt revealed that he originally wanted to retire earlier than 2017.

“My main goal was to win three Olympics. Once I had done that, I wanted to hang my boots up. I told myself I needed to retire after the Olympics. But my sponsors and fans pressured me. They were like, ‘You should come back.’ It was a rough season. I didn’t have the motivation I usually did,” he explained as per The Time.

His final competitive year was marred by injury. Despite warnings from his doctor, Bolt pushed himself into his last world championships.

“My doctor told me, ‘Do not go. You’re not in good shape. You’re not ready. If you go and you push yourself, you will get injured.’ I was like, ‘I have to go. Everybody is expecting me.’ So it wasn’t a massive surprise [that he tore a hamstring in his final race].”

Life off the track brought its own challenges. Bolt had to return one of his Olympic relay golds after teammate Nesta Carter tested positive for doping.

“Nesta Carter came to me and apologised. It was disappointing. But everybody makes mistakes. I’ve moved on.”

He also faced heartbreak in 2017 when a close friend passed away.

“Grieving and speaking about it was so important for me. Spending time with all the people that we hung out with helped me to deal with it. So I didn’t train as much as I wanted to before my last world championships. That’s why I wasn’t in shape,” he admitted.

Even after retirement, controversies followed. Earlier this year, Bolt lost more than £10 million from his investment account due to fraud.

“It’s just money. The first couple of weeks were tough. I looked at it like, it’s bad, but I just need to work hard. I have my health and family — I try to look at the positives.”

Bolt remains a keen observer of track and field, acknowledging the rise of new talents and the advantage of “super spikes” — new-generation running shoes he never got to use.

“Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce ran a tenth of a second faster with ‘super spikes’. So they really give you an advantage. I wish I had stayed a bit longer.”

Faith continues to guide him.

“I travel with my Bible. I still read it. I grew up as a Christian. It’s very important in my life. My mum still goes to church and still encourages me to go.”