You don’t generally bet against Noah Lyles on a track. But Usain Bolt saw the odds were in their favor – the sun was rising on Jamaica again. “I think we’re looking good this year,” the 11-time World Champion said to NBC Sports on September 13 while discussing their chances in the 100m sprint. But believing is one thing. And seeing your countrymen actually turn the hopes into reality is a feeling like none other. And even the zen Usain Bolt couldn’t control himself after what unfolded in the 100m men’s sprint at the Tokyo World Athletics Championships.

Oblique Seville – 1; Kishane Thompson – 2; Noah Lyles – 3. It’s the third name that makes the achievement of Seville and Thompson all the more worthy. It almost rarely happens that Lyles is on the track and there are two sprinters faster than him. What we witnessed at the National Stadium of Tokyo was unbelievable. And the fact that it was two Jamaicans doing it made Bolt lose his cool with elation.

Journalist Romardo Lyons shared a short clip on X where you see Bolt almost push a guy off the balcony in excitement while seeing the race and how it ended. The demeanor of the Jamaican was almost like a father fixated on his son, while the young one puts everything on the line to make history.

Then, when the race ended, the 39-year-old was almost jumping around like he was a kid who had just been bought his favorite toy. We never thought we would see Bolt animated like this while watching a race. The range of emotions he showed in just 10 seconds – you just got to see the greatness of athletics in full flow.

And he had to just come down the stairs to the tracks immediately to congratulate the new Jamaican heroes. First, he shook hands with Kishane Thompson and then Oblique Seville, proudly embracing them as Bolt sees his legacy being kept alive. It is a victory for Jamaican sprinting.

Uncannily, the eight-time Olympic gold medalist somehow had big expectations from Seville and Thompson, both 24-year-olds. Talking about the new World Champion, Bolt said, “When it comes to Oblique, I think he’s been there so many times. I think it’s just his time.” But how did Usain Bolt get it so right? Well, clearly from his emotions, he wasn’t ready for it.

The sprinter, who is always known for being the most nonchalant character on track, was an absolute whirlwind of emotions. But it only shows how much his heart beats for Jamaica. And you know what? The legendary sprinter may be retired. But we saw the new generation keep him alive on the track. And we are not just talking about his winning.

New Age Jamaican with Usain Bolt aura

Bolt was ecstatic to see the Gold back in Jamaica. But what the fans got excited about was Kishane Thompson being Usain Bolt 2.0 on the track. The same guy, Romardo Lyons, shared a tweet showing a clip from the 100m Final. Rather, it was just before the race where we saw Kishane Thompson. Is he tense? Deep in thought? Strategizing?

Quite the polar opposite – he was chatting with a Stadium personnel, just chilling, and being the most at-ease guy in that 8-man field. You won’t see many sprinters bumping fists with the event personnel at the stadium, chatting, and being so relaxed. Of course, Bolt was the legendary exception we had witnessed. And the similarity was pointed out by the commentator himself: “This is Usain Bolt-esque levels of calm. That’s exactly what Bolt was like ahead of big races, isn’t it?”

Absolutely. Bolt always stood out for being loose and relaxed, almost casual for the greatest races that a sprinter can participate in. He never looked stressed, his attitude projecting an aura of self-assurance. One may say that Bolt’s preparation and training gave him that confidence. But every sprinter who has reached this level has worked the hardest to reach this stage. The difference between these speedsters is Milli-seconds.

Focus and seriousness are not luxuries – they are winning necessities. Well, that only makes Bolt an outlier. And now we have Kishane Thompson.