Since his retirement from professional sports in 2017, legendary sprint Olympian Usain Bolt has turned his exceptional talents to an array of other ventures, including a period playing professional football, a move into the music and recording industry, and various businesses, including sports bars and e-scooters. He recently revealed a shift in his view of coaching in an interview with World Athletics. The eight-time Olympic gold medal winner has previously dismissed serving in a coaching capacity due to what he described as his lack of patience.

Fatherhood prompts new views

His change in attitude has surprised some fans, but Bolt says that now that he is the father of three young children, including twin boys, he has developed the patience that is required to be a successful coach. He told World Athletics that his current focus is on his children and that it is fun to watch them grow up. People frequently ask him if he is going to coach, and up until now, he always answered that he didn’t have the patience for it. Now, because of his children, he has had to learn patience and said, “I think I am leaning to maybe coach one day.”

Desire to learn from experienced coaches

Bolt has also expressed a desire to learn from experienced coaches and mentors. Not only does he want to match their abilities, but always thinking like a champion, he wants to surpass them. He said that he has discussed the issue with his coach and plans to “soak up knowledge” so that he will not just repeat what others have done, but potentially transcend their coaching skills.

Frustration and conflicts with dancehall

Although Bolt established a Kingston-based recording label after his plan to become a professional footballer was derailed, his venture into dancehall music resulted in frustration. In 2021, he took to Instagram to allege that his contributions to reggae and dancehall music were ignored by the industry establishment. However, he received staunch support from his friend, the dancehall star Bounty Killer, who revealed the sprinter’s life-long love for dancehall. According to Bounty Killer, Bolt is deserving of support from the industry as a dedicated music enthusiast and major supporter of the genre.

What the future holds

A potential move into coaching for Bolt, or a continuing involvement with the music industry illustrates Bolt’s evolution, an evolution fueled by his passions and a real desire to make meaningful contributions to either, or both, of these fields.

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