Usain Bolt says ‘it will be a good time to retire’ after Rio 2016 Olympics

Usain Bolt
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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.”

Samuel L. Jackson wants Bolt in movie

2023 French Open women’s singles draw, scores

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At the French Open, Iga Swiatek of Poland eyes a third title at Roland Garros and a fourth Grand Slam singles crown overall.

The tournament airs live on NBC Sports, Peacock and Tennis Channel through championship points in Paris.

Swiatek, the No. 1 seed from Poland, can join Serena Williams and Justine Henin as the lone women to win three or more French Opens since 2000.

Having turned 22 on Wednesday, she can become the youngest woman to win three French Opens since Monica Seles in 1992 and the youngest woman to win four Slams overall since Williams in 2002.

FRENCH OPEN: Broadcast Schedule | Men’s Draw

But Swiatek is not as dominant as in 2022, when she went 16-0 in the spring clay season during an overall 37-match win streak.

She retired from her last pre-French Open match with a right thigh injury and said it wasn’t serious. Before that, she lost the final of another clay-court tournament to Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus.

Sabalenka, the No. 2 seed, and Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan, the No. 4 seed and Wimbledon champion, are the top challengers in Paris.

No. 3 Jessica Pegula, the highest-seeded American man or woman, was eliminated in the third round.

No. 6 Coco Gauff, runner-up to Swiatek last year, is the best hope to become the first American to win a Grand Slam singles title since Sofia Kenin at the 2020 Australian Open. The 11-major drought is the longest for U.S. women since Seles won the 1996 Australian Open.

MORE: All you need to know for 2023 French Open

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2023 French Open Women’s Singles Draw

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2023 French Open men’s singles draw, scores

French Open Men's Draw
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The French Open men’s singles draw is missing injured 14-time champion Rafael Nadal for the first time since 2004, leaving the Coupe des Mousquetaires ripe for the taking.

The tournament airs live on NBC Sports, Peacock and Tennis Channel through championship points in Paris.

Novak Djokovic is not only bidding for a third crown at Roland Garros, but also to lift a 23rd Grand Slam singles trophy to break his tie with Nadal for the most in men’s history.

FRENCH OPEN: Broadcast Schedule | Women’s Draw

But the No. 1 seed is Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz, who won last year’s U.S. Open to become, at 19, the youngest man to win a major since Nadal’s first French Open title in 2005.

Now Alcaraz looks to become the second-youngest man to win at Roland Garros since 1989, after Nadal of course.

Alcaraz missed the Australian Open in January due to a right leg injury, but since went 30-3 with four titles. Notably, he has not faced Djokovic this year. They could meet in the semifinals.

Russian Daniil Medvedev, the No. 2 seed, was upset in the first round by 172nd-ranked Brazilian qualifier Thiago Seyboth Wild. It marked the first time a men’s top-two seed lost in the first round of any major since 2003 Wimbledon (Ivo Karlovic d. Lleyton Hewitt).

No. 9 Taylor Fritz and No. 12 Frances Tiafoe are the highest-seeded Americans, looking to become the first U.S. man to make the French Open quarterfinals since Andre Agassi in 2003. Since then, five different American men combined to make the fourth round on eight occasions.

MORE: All you need to know for 2023 French Open

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2023 French Open Men’s Singles Draw

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