Sprint legend Usain Bolt has revealed three iconic athletes he wishes he’d faced on the track but never got the chance during his glittering career, including South Africa’s 400m world record holder Wayde van Niekerk.
Speaking in a recent interview with Puma, the eight-time Olympic champion opened up about the names that continue to intrigue his imagination and fuel his competitive spirit.
Bolt listed American sprint icon Michael Johnson, Jamaican sprint pioneer Don Quarrie, and the dynamic Wayde van Niekerk as his most regrettable missed matchups.
“It would definitely be Michael Johnson, Don Quarrie, and I’m very sad that I didn’t get to compete against van Niekerk,” Bolt admitted.
The Showdown Against Van Niekerk That Never Materialized
While Usain Bolt ruled the 100m and 200m with unmatched dominance, his admiration for van Niekerk comes not only from the South African’s astonishing 400m world record of 43.03 seconds, set from lane eight at the 2016 Rio Olympics, but also from a missed opportunity for a 200m clash.
“We wanted to do a 200 meters, and I was not fit enough,” Bolt revealed.
“That’s one thing, you know what? I wish I was fit enough to compete against him.”
A face-off between the two would have been one for the ages, pairing the fastest man in history with one of the most versatile sprinters ever seen. Usain Bolt regrets but respects the competition and sees a marketer’s global spectacle.
“Not just because he’s a world record holder. To run a 200 meter with him, who would be the best? It would have been great to compete. Yeah, I could see myself marketing,” Bolt added.
Paying Homage to Sprinting Legends
Joining van Niekerk on Usain Bolt’s dream list are two of track and field’s all-time greats. Michael Johnson, the American superstar who revolutionized sprinting in the 1990s with his iconic upright style and dominance in the 200m and 400m, is a name Bolt has long admired.
A race between Johnson and Bolt, both at their peak, would have been a spectacle the athletics world will forever wish for.
Completing the trio is Don Quarrie, one of Jamaica’s earliest sprint heroes and a 1976 Olympic champion. Although their careers never crossed paths, Bolt has often acknowledged Quarrie’s impact on Jamaican sprinting and the legacy he helped establish.