Usain Bolt sees the Rio 2016 Olympics as the possible end of his career.
“So far, it’s after the Olympics in Rio,” Bolt said of his retirement plans Wednesday. “I think if I am in great shape, and I go there and do what I have to do. I think it will be a good time to retire, on top, and just being dominating for so long.”
Bolt was speaking two days before his final race of the season, a 100 in Brussels. You can watch Bolt’s entire press conference here.
Bolt, 27, is still dominating. He won triple gold at last month’s World Championships, just as he did at the 2008 and 2012 Olympics.
Bolt also announced his goals for 2014, to possibly compete in the Commonwealth Games for the first time and to better his 200-meter world record of 19.19 set in 2009.
“I have learned, I have mastered the art of running the turn,” Bolt said. “So if I can stay injury free and be in good shape, then it’s possible for me to definitely go after the world record.”
Bolt has said he wants to win three more golds in 2016 in his usual events (100, 200, 4×100 relay). That would give Bolt nine career Olympic medals, all gold, matching Carl Lewis and Paavo Nurmi‘s record for most Olympic titles in track and field.
The Finnish distance legend Nurmi holds the record for most overall Olympic track and field medals with 12.
Bolt will be 29 come the next Olympics. The most notable sprinters over the last two decades all competed into their 30s.
Lewis was 35 in his final Olympics in 1996, though he only competed in the long jump in Atlanta. Michael Johnson was 33 in 2000, when he won the 400 in his last Games. Donovan Bailey was 32 in 2000, when he was ill and unable to reach the final in the 100. 2000 Olympic 100-meter champion Maurice Greene was 30 in his Olympic farewell in 2004.
In Brussels, Bolt will face a field that includes world silver and bronze medalists Justin Gatlin and Nesta Carter on Friday at 2:45 p.m. Eastern time.
Here’s NBC Sports track and field analyst Ato Boldon analyzing Bolt’s comments Wednesday on “SportsDash.”
