‘We Were Just More Talented Men in Our Time’ -Usain Bolt Aims Subtle Dig at Noah Lyles, Oblique Seville and Co

Usain Bolt has explained why modern sprinters like Noah Lyles, Kishane Thompson and Oblique Seville have yet to hit the heights his generation of sprinters did back during his running days.

Bolt still holds three world records: the 100m (9.58s), the 200m (19.19s), and the 4x100m relay (36.84s).

Moreover,  since his retirement in 2017, the fastest time ever recorded is 9.75 in the event, set by Thompson in June 2025, which makes him the sixth fastest man of all time, behind Justin Gatlin and Asafa Powell ( both 9.74 PB), as well as Tyson Gay and Yohan Blake (both 9.68 PB).

Speaking to media in Tokyo, including The Guardian and The Telegraph, the Jamaican legend was candid in his assessment. “You want the real answer? We’re just more talented,” Bolt said. “That’s all I’m saying. Of course, it shows when it comes to the men. You can see the women are different. They’re running faster times and faster times. So it shows – it has to be the talent.”

Bolt won eight Olympic gold medals and 11 world titles. During his reign, he regularly beat rivals such as Gay, Blake, Powell, and Gatlin — all of whom ran faster than today’s leading crop. Indeed, no athlete has broken 9.70s in the 100m since the Lausanne Diamond League meet shortly after the London 2012 Olympics.

While several of Bolt’s contemporaries were hit with doping bans at different stages of their careers, he insisted their raw ability set them apart. Pointing to the example of Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, who improved her times with the introduction of new “super spikes,” Bolt argued that talent remained the decisive factor. 

“You have Shelly, who has got the new spikes, and she ran faster. So it’s just the talent. We’re just way more talented men over that time. It shows if you look at it,” he said.

Beyond performance, Bolt also urged modern athletes to showcase more personality to connect with wider audiences. “It’s the personality. I think a lot of people try to be fun but it comes off differently. It’s just having a good time. If you try too hard, it’s not going to be the same,” he explained.

Recalling the 2012 London Olympics, where he carried Jamaica’s flag at the opening ceremony, Bolt said his willingness to engage made him stand out. “When I was in London, I knew the Queen, so I waved,” he said. “I tried to engage with fans and that’s why they gravitated to it.”