Usain Bolt’s reputation precedes him. His dominance on the track, along with his electrifying charisma, has made him the gold standard in sprinting. From being an Olympian to the world champion, Bolt has done it all. However, no matter how much time goes by, rising athletes are compared with the legend, with many attempting to chase his records. Now, the question arises: can the track and field world have another Usain Bolt?

The retired Bahamian sprinter Rodney Green has offered his perspective. Green appeared on the ‘Ready Set Go’ YouTube channel recently and shared his thoughts about Usain Bolt being irreplaceable, “One of these days, I’m going to do a breakdown on why there can’t be another Bolt. You may be able to compare form; you may be able to compare likeness, but as far as being another Bolt? You’d have to try to be another Carl or another Maurice first. Man, there can’t even be another you, bro, let alone another Bolt.” 

Let that sink in! For Green, trying to become another Carl or Maurice is a more achievable dream than trying to become another Bolt. This emphasizes just how brilliant of a sprinter he is. He is a class of his own and there is no denying that.

Radney Green further said, “Bolt survived gold medals in three Olympic cycles. Some people don’t even survive one Olympic cycle. Just stop it. Enjoy these athletes for who they are—appreciate their journey and let them carve their path.” Through the 2008, 2012, and 2016 Olympic Games, Usain Bolt has a total of 8 Olympic gold medals, and all are gold. His winning events were 200m, 100m, and 4x100m relay. Green pointed out how everyone has their own pace, and athletes must be appreciated for their performance and their journey.

“Compare them to their peers, to the people that are running now. Because right now, you’re trying to be the next Usain Bolt; you’re chasing a video game.” Bolt’s unsurpassable dominance, with his 9.58s (100m) and 19.19s (200m) world records that are more than 10 years old, shows a speed that almost cannot be matched. No current sprinter has come close, showing that pursuing his legacy is really as impossible as trying to chase an unattainable fantasy—almost like a video game. However, as impossible as dethroning the Jamaican legend may sound, athletes have occasionally been compared to him!

Athletes who have been compared with Usain Bolt

Usain Bolt’s dominance in the track and field event of sprinting has reached such a level that novices regard him as a sort of standard for themselves. Several athletes over time—be it through remarkable but unrecognized records or sheer passion—have been compared to the 38-year-old. The quest to locate the new “Bolt” is still on in full swing.

Recently, a young athlete named Gout Gout has been the highlight in the track and field community, compared with Usain Bolt. What were his timings? With a 200-meter PR of 20.69 seconds in January, he got off to a great start in 2024. In the heats, the 16-year-old sprinter managed to complete a 100-meter sprint in 10.04 seconds. However, he is still behind Bolt but has a force that often gets converted into magic on track. In the past, another athlete was also compared with Usain Bolt.

In 2020, an Indian Kambala jockey, Srinivas Gowda, was compared to Usain Bolt. Though he didn’t belong to track and field, he gained widespread attention when he finished 142 m in 13.42 seconds. It is a sprint of 142 m that happens through paddy fields with buffalo in Karnataka, South India. But what about names from the track and field community itself?

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In an interview with NBC Sports in 2023, Noah Lyles said, “I refuse to just be another athlete that is known for running. It’s not me. I specifically said, I know what [Usain] Bolt has done; I want to do more.” Lyles earned the title of “fastest man in the world” by winning the 100 and 200 meters at the 2023 World Athletics Championships. Only time will tell if any athlete can surpass the legend Usain Bolt.