Usain Bolt has teased his millions of fans by hinting at an Olympics comeback in a very different sport
Usain Bolt says he is ready to represent Jamaica at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games – but not in athletics. Bolt is one of the greatest Olympians ever, dominating the 100m and 200m sprints across three Games between 2008 and 2016.
The Jamaican clinched eight gold medals and famously set the world record for the 200m (19.19 seconds), the 100m (9.58 seconds) and the 4x100m (36.84 seconds) races. He hung up his spikes following the 2017 World Championships in London, where he finished third in the 100m.
Yet, despite now being 39, Bolt has revealed he could feature in a completely different sport at the next Olympics, which will be held in LA. The athletics icon has thrown his hat into the ring to represent his nation in cricket – a popular sport in Jamaica – when the sport makes its Olympics return in 2028 following a 38-year absence.
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He told Esquire in January: “I am happily retired from professional sport. I haven’t played cricket in a long time. But if they call me, I’ll be ready,” before laughing.
Bolt has often stated cricket was his first love. Having played at school and thrived as a fast bowler, he might have even represented the West Indies had he not been steered towards track and field by his school coach, who noticed his incredible speed.
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Of course, it wouldn’t be the first time Bolt has tried his hand at a different professional sport. In 2018, post athletics retirement, the boyhood Manchester United fan made it clear he wanted to play professional football.
Bolt turned down a two-year contract offer from Maltese club Valletta and joined Australia’s Central Coast Mariners on an eight-week trial, even scoring two goals in a friendly match. He left the A-League side in November 2018 despite being offered a deal, with negotiations reportedly falling through over his salary.
In the following January, Bolt announced he would no longer be pursuing a career in football, saying his “sports life is over”.
Since being stretchered off with a ruptured Achilles tendon during the Soccer Aid charity match at Stamford Bridge in 2024, the veteran admits he no longer runs. And he will have plenty of work to do if he holds any real ambitions of returning to the Olympics as a cricketer.
In September 2025, he told The Guardian: “I mostly do gym workouts. I’m not a fan, but I think now that I’ve been out for a while I have to actually start running. Because when I walk up stairs I get out of breath. I think when I start working on it fully again, I will probably have to do some laps just to get my breathing right.”
Sky Sports discounted Premier League and EFL package
Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle ahead of the 2025/26 season, saving members £192 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.
Sky will show at least 215 live Premier League games next season, an increase of up to 100 more.