Usain Bolt has emphatically dismissed claims that Paris Olympic 100 metres final outshone the unforgettable 2012 edition, describing the London showdown as a race that will never be replicated in track and field history.
Speaking on the Ready Set Go podcast alongside former sprinter Rodney Green and Olympic gold medallist Justin Gatlin, Bolt challenged the notion that the 2024 final, won by Noah Lyles in dramatic fashion, could compare to the star-studded spectacle of London 2012.
In Paris last summer, a packed Stade de France witnessed one of the tightest Olympic 100m finals in history as Lyles edged out Jamaica’s Kishane Thompson by just five-thousandths of a second. The race, where all eight finalists crossed the line within 0.12 seconds of each other, was hailed by many as the greatest Olympic sprint ever.
But Bolt wasn’t buying into the hype.
“Do you guys really think the last 100m was the best one? I’m curious — do you really think so after what we performed in 2012?” Bolt asked his fellow panelists during the podcast episode.
Gatlin, who claimed bronze in that 2012 final, backed Bolt’s sentiments, pointing to the unparalleled calibre of athletes assembled in London.
“The line-up in that race was unheard of,” Gatlin said. “When you look at any other sport, NBA, NFL, greatness happens in different generations. Jordan didn’t play with LeBron, Kobe played some with LeBron. But in 2012, we were all in the same generation and we lined up at the same time.”
It wasn’t just about times, Gatlin argued, but the collective legacy.
“That was the most epic race when it came to legacy. Time-wise, I can see where people are coming from with the 2024 final, but you won’t ever replicate that 2012 race. The top five men in history were there.”
Bolt didn’t hold back when comparing the current sprinting generation to his era. The eight-time Olympic gold medallist boldly claimed that no athlete from the 2024 final would have secured a medal in London.
“Nobody in that race would have gotten a medal [in 2012],” Bolt said.
“Justin, they wouldn’t have caught you, they’d have been chasing tails.”
Gatlin laughed in agreement, adding, “If I’d have lined up with them at that period of time, I would have won that.”
Reflecting on the intensity of the 2012 final, Bolt recalled the crucial mental edge needed to survive such a high-stakes showdown.
“I was right beside Justin when the gun went. He was one step ahead of me and I was like, how is this even possible? It’s a good thing I’m mentally tough because if you’re not, seeing that would break your vibe immediately.”
While the 2024 final brought its own brand of drama and brilliance, Bolt remains adamant that it pales in comparison to the legendary night in London. The mix of speed, personalities, and historical significance of the 2012 final, in his view, remains unmatched in sprinting history.