' If I Switched, I Would've Made More Money!' – Usain Bolt Backs Asafa Powell on Jamaica's Athlete Welfare

Usain Bolt earned alot of money thanks to multiple endorsements during his illustrious career dominating sprinting, but only a fraction of it was from Jamaica.

Jamaican sprint legend Usain Bolt has appeared to agree with Asafa Powell’s controversial statements about the country’s lack of support systems for athletes, admitting he would have made much more money had he represented another country during his illustrious sprinting career.

In April, Powell,  who has never won an individual Olympic medal despite participating in three games , took to his YouTube channel to express regret at turning down the opportunity to run for another nation in 2006 after once being offered “millions of dollars”.

“I turned it down because I didn’t know what the future would hold. If I knew what I know now, I would’ve taken up that opportunity.

"Money makes the world go, and everybody wants more money and more money every day,” Powell lamented.

PAY ATTENTION: Stay updated with the Latest Sports News in Kenya from Pulse Sports

Powell even went as far as saying his children, who also have Canadian and Ghanaian heritage by way of his wife Alyshia, would almost certainly never run for Jamaican in future “if the support systems do not change”.

 “I know a lot of people feel like they want to level up or disrespect athletes, but it’s a different level, guys. Don’t try to level up. We’re all human beings, but it’s just a different level, you know what I mean?”

“We have a talent, and we use that talent to make a living. That’s what we do. So if the whole system doesn’t change up…”

Bolt Weighs In: Personality and Image Matter

Now, Bolt—the most successful sprinter in history with eight Olympic gold medals—has echoed those sentiments, explaining on The Fix Podcast that while he’s grateful for his endorsements, he understands clearly how much more he could have earned had he competed for a country with a more robust athlete support system.

“One of the big things I’ve learned from working with sponsors is that your personality is everything,” said Bolt.

“I caught the attention of sponsors because I was fun and relaxed—just being myself—and then the talent followed. I’d laugh and chat with them, and they liked that.”

Bolt, who famously charmed the world with his smile, signature lightning pose, and laid-back attitude, acknowledged that off-track image played a critical role in his financial success.

“That’s why it’s important to change your image, to grow, to develop, and to improve. That’s how you learn and understand the business side of things. I started making a lot of money outside of the sport, so I started brushing my hair more, fixing up my appearance—image matters.”

Bolt - ‘I Would’ve Made Way More Money’ If Based Abroad

But the decorated sprinter didn’t stop there. Bolt candidly acknowledged that had he been based elsewhere, the financial rewards could have been exponentially greater.

“If you really think about it, when you look at certain brands, you don’t always see the most talented people—they go with those who have the right image. I try to stay true to who I am. I’m still Jamaican.”

“Let me explain something: even if I had switched and competed for another country, I would’ve made way more money. If I was based in the U.S., Great Britain, or any of the other top countries in athletics, I would’ve made significantly more. Because the country would pay me for representing them—Great Britain, for example, does things very differently.”

Bolt’s comments now add serious weight to Powell’s original concerns, once again raising difficult questions about how Jamaica—despite producing some of the greatest athletes the sport has ever seen—continues to struggle with providing long-term support and structure for its national treasures.