Usain Bolt says being a father to 3 children is harder than winning gold at the Olympics
![a man holding a sign: Usain Bolt of Jamaica Ian MacNicol/Getty Images]({"default":{"load":"default","w":"80","h":"60","src":"//img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/AAMvEA1.img?h=600&w=799&m=6&q=60&o=f&l=f"},"size3column":{"load":"default","w":"62","h":"47","src":"//img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/AAMvEA1.img?h=468&w=624&m=6&q=60&o=f&l=f"},"size2column":{"load":"default","w":"62","h":"47","src":"//img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/AAMvEA1.img?h=468&w=624&m=6&q=60&o=f&l=f"}})
-
Facebook
-
Twitter
-
Google+
-
LinkedIn
- The retired Olympic sprinter is father to one girl and twin boys.
- The fastest man in the world says that the Olympics was easy in comparison to raising them.
- Bolt is not forcing his sporting lifestyle on his children, he told People magazine.
Usain Bolt, the retired champion sprinter, has said that the Olympics was easy compared to raising his three children.
Bolt, 34, is father to one girl – Olympia Lightning, born May 2020 – and twin boys – Saint Leo and Thunder, both born June 2021.
In an exclusive interview with People magazine, Jamaica’s eight-time gold medalist said that having three children is harder than the Olympics.
“[It’s harder] being a father of three, of all of them, especially when they’re crying. It’s great, but everybody’s crying. It’s pandemonium in the house.” Bolt said.
Bolt parents his children with long-time partner Kasi Bennett, a Jamaican model.
Since bringing their twins into the world, Bolt tells People that they have had help from both his parents and Bennett’s parents, with Bolt saying that this helps with how “crazy” it is to have three small children.
As the world gathers to watch the pandemic-era 2020 Olympics, the question is whether the next generation of Bolts will be joining their father’s sporting legacy.
The world record-holding Olympian says his children are indeed growing tall and showing physical signs of athleticism, but the fastest man in the world told People that he will let that choice belong to his children.
“I’m sure they’re going to be tall, I can tell. When they get their checkup, they’re like, ‘Wow. They’re really growing. They’re going to be tall.’ So, I know that much, but for me, anything they want to do, I’m just going to support them,” the proud dad says. “That’s always a key thing: Just support your child in whatever they want to do. So if they don’t want to run, if they don’t want to do sports, I’m okay with it.”
Though Bolt would love for his kids to be trained athletes who continue his legacy when they grow up, he says he won’t force his kids into competing — even if he would love to cheer them on from the stands.
“It would be wonderful to sit in the stands and watch any one of them just to compete. That’s a high level, and even to win, it would be a dream come true. But as I said, I won’t pressure. I won’t pressure, but it would be a great experience as a dad, as an Olympian, to watch your kid as an Olympian, running with the Olympians.”
The 2020 Tokyo Olympics is the first to follow Bolt’s retirement from athletics, meaning this year the games will – amongst other things, due to the pandemic – be missing an iconic sporting figure.
Usain Bolt on empty Tokyo Olympics stadium: ‘I’m happy I don’t have to do it’
Bolt is considered one of the greatest sprinters of all time
-
Facebook
-
Twitter
-
Google+
-
LinkedIn
Athletics – IAAF Diamond League Herculis meeting – 100m Men – Louis II Stadium, Monaco – July 21, 2017. Prince Albert II of Monaco congratulates Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt.
Most dominant sprinters in Olympics history, and while he’s retired from the sport, he said Thursday he probably wouldn’t be competing if there were no fans in the stands.
Tokyo organizers backtracked on allowing fans in the stadiums for Olympic events due to the coronavirus pandemic and the uptick in reported cases in the days leading up to the start of the Games. Athletes, team delegates, media and sponsors are the only people allowed in the stands.
For the eight-time gold medalist, having no fans wouldn’t have sat well with him.
“I don’t know how I would do it,” Bolt told the Canadian Press. “I live for the fans, that energy and that vibe, that’s something I enjoyed doing. I think it would be really tough for me personally to compete in an empty stadium, I’m happy I don’t have to do it, (but) I wish the athletes all the best.”
He added that it will be tough for organizers to build the same environment for the Olympics since there will be no fans. He said the athletes participating should still keep their focus.
“The athletes just have to remember that’s why they’re there, to compete at the highest level. This is still the Olympics, empty stadium or not, you just have to go out there and do your best,” he said.
Bolt is the world record holder in the 100-meter and 200-meter sprint. He was also on the team that set the world record in the 4×100 meter relay.
Bolt retired after the 2017 World Championships.
Usain Bolt
.jpg)
Bolt at the 2016 Summer Olympics
|
|
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Full name | Usain St Leo Bolt |
| Nickname(s) | Lightning Bolt[1] |
| Nationality | Jamaican |
| Born | 21 August 1986 (age 34) Sherwood Content, Jamaica |
| Height | 1.95 m (6 ft 5 in)[2] |
| Weight | 94 kg (207 lb)[3] |
| Sport | |
| Sport | Track and field |
| Event(s) | Sprints |
| Club | Racers Track Club |
| Coached by | Glen Mills[4] |
| Retired | 2017[5] |
| Achievements and titles | |
| Personal best(s) | |
|
Medal record
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
