Usain Bolt has explained why modern sprinters should aspire to be like him, appearing to hit back at Noah Lyles.
Jamaican sprint icon Usain Bolt has once again appeared to hit back at Noah Lyles over his disparaging comments while addressing the new generation of sprinters, making it clear that greatness in track and field must be measured against the standard he set.
Back in March, the eight-time Olympic champion publicly called out Lyles on the Ready, Set, Go podcast, expressing his disappointment at the comment and urging the American to “put some respect on my name.”
“I remember when he [Lyles] just came out and he said, 'Usain Bolt who?', I was like, 'Bro, stop it,’” Bolt said. “I normally don't say anything, but I was like, 'If you don't know who Usain Bolt is, you're in the wrong sport.’”
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Bolt, who rarely engages in back-and-forths, made an exception this time. His message was direct: “So stop acting. Put some respect on my name,” he told podcast host Justin Gatlin.
Although Lyles later clarified that his comment was taken out of context, Bolt maintained his stance while also acknowledging the ambition it takes to chase records.
“He said he didn't mean it like that, but I respect everybody and understand you've got to aim high and you want to break records,” said Bolt. Still, he was adamant about respecting those who came before.
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“But I would never disrespect anyone [these sprinters],” he added. “I always give credit to those who helped build the sport.”
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Usain Bolt: I am the bar
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Now, speaking in another interview—this time for Puma—Bolt addressed a broader trend among younger athletes who insist they don’t want to follow in his footsteps.
“A lot of athletes always say, ‘I don't want to be like Usain Bolt. I want to be my own self.’ Yes, you should be different—but you should want to be like me,” Bolt said. “You know what I mean? Do it in your own way.”
He went on to explain that aspiring to greatness should involve aiming at the highest possible benchmark—and in the world of sprinting, that benchmark is still him.
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“When I hear people say, ‘I don’t want to be the next Usain Bolt,’ I don’t get it. You should want to be the next Usain Bolt. That’s what I always did. I wanted to be like Michael Johnson. He inspired me. I wanted to be like him because he was the epitome of greatness. He showed you what it takes to get there,” he said.
“If you want to surpass me—beautiful. But if you say, ‘I don’t want to be the next Usain Bolt,’ then what do you want to be? I’m the one who set the bar where it is now. So, if you want to reach that level, you have to be me—and more.”
Bolt stressed that while individuality is important, greatness can and should be modelled.
“I always hear athletes say things like that and I’m confused. Why wouldn’t you want to be like the person who’s considered the greatest? Be that person. Be more than that person. But do it in your own way. Be your own version of Usain Bolt.
“You can never be me—there’s only one Usain Bolt. But I’m the bar. If you want to be great, you have to come close to or even surpass what I did.”