Four years after what was thought to be his final race, sprint legend Justin Gatlin is officially lacing up his spikes again.
The 43-year-old Olympic gold medallist and five-time Olympic podium finisher confirmed on his Ready Set Go podcast that he’s making a sensational return to the track.
After closing out his professional career at the 2021 Kip Keino Classic in Nairobi with a third-place finish in 10.03 seconds, Gatlin hinted he wasn’t quite done. Injury setbacks and timing derailed an earlier attempt at a comeback, but now, the American sprint veteran has his sights set firmly on new challenges.
On June 27, Track World News reported Gatlin’s surprise announcement. In his podcast episode, Gatlin revealed.
“I’m making an announcement right now. I’m going to start training. So we’re going to be ready for the 40-meter. We’re going to be ready for these street races against Speed. We’re going to be ready against Tyreek if he says something.”
His targets are social media sensation iShowSpeed, NFL star Tyreek Hill, and the coveted Masters 100m World Record.
A Shot at History
Gatlin already holds the men’s age 35+ world record in the 100m, clocking 9.87 seconds at the 2019 Prefontaine Classic. Now, his eyes are set on breaking Kim Collins’ Masters (40+) 100m World Record of 9.93 seconds. Remarkably, Gatlin last dipped under 9.93 seconds at the very same Prefontaine Classic in 2021, just three races before his retirement.
In a bold statement, Gatlin told co-host Rodney Green on the podcast.
“Give me a little prep time. I’m Batman right now.”
He also recalled how Collins playfully thanked him post-retirement for not breaking his record back then. But if Gatlin has his way, that thank-you message might have come a little too early.
Redefining Longevity in Sprinting
Gatlin’s announcement comes at a time when veteran athletes are rewriting the limits of age and performance. If his return materializes, it would add a fresh chapter to a storied career spanning over two decades.
Few sprinters have maintained elite form into their 40s, but if anyone can, it’s the former world champion who stunned Usain Bolt at the 2017 World Championships.
Fans are eager to see if Gatlin can defy Father Time.
