Subscribe for all my updates and don't miss a thing! Sign me up!

What Happened To Usain Bolt?
Retirement, Music, Charity, Fraud + More

Sharing Is Caring! Share this awesome content with your friends now.

start_here_if_new_image_link

see_jamaica_in_videos_banner_july_2024_large
usain_bolt_jamaica_triple_record_holderWhat Happened To Usain Bolt?

By Venesha Johnson | Associate Writer

Usain Bolt, our living legend, has retired. Have you ever wondered what he has been up to these days? Just his name reminds me of the days our entire island would erupt in celebration, clanking our pot covers together as he sprints to the finish line and earns us a goal! Boy, what a time. Despite having hung up his spikes, he is still and will always be our sprint legend. So many are now asking, What happened to Usain Bolt?

New! Take a piece of Jamaica with you💃!

Savour the memories!  Now you can get your authentic Jamaican souvenir items, as well as traditional Jamaican herbs, spices and housewares on our popular e-store. Click Here to learn more.


And, if you ever need a trustworthy and knowledgeable local guide, consider booking a private tour with us!

Let’s go down history a bit. Usain St. Leo Bolt was born on August 21, 1986, in a small community called Sherwood Content in the parish of Trelawny in Jamaica. While he certainly didn’t start with dreams of being the fastest man alive, we can all acknowledge who he certainly became. Can you believe that young Usain was all about cricket and soccer? But thanks to some sharp-eyed coaches at his alma mater, William Knibb Memorial High School, who saw something special in that tall, lanky kid and nudged him towards track and field, today we have the greatest sprinter of all time.

I don’t know if you remember, but it was at the 2008 Beijing Olympics that Bolt first blew us away onto the global stage when he won the gold in both the 100m and 200m sprints. He did it so smoothly that he looked as though he were merely taking a jog; as a matter of fact, he even ran the 100 meters with one shoe untied and still won!

Bolt didn’t stop there, though. He went on to dominate the 2012 London Olympics and the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, making history as the only sprinter to win both the 100m and 200m in three consecutive Olympic Games. And let’s not forget his mind-blowing world record of 9.58 seconds in the 100 m, set in 2009, a record that is still yet to be broken. But behind all that gold, there were some tough moments too. Like many athletes, injuries, especially a nagging hamstring one, plagued his career and eventually played a big role in his decision to retire.

The Decision to Retire

In 2017, at the age of just 30 years old, Bolt decided to retire from the Olympic competition, marking the end of an era. For some athletes, 30 might seem a bit young to retire, but for sprinters, it’s practically ancient, so for him to dominate the track up until that point was a major feat in itself. His final race was the 4x100m relay at the 2017 World Championships in London, which ended in heartbreak when he pulled up with a hamstring injury.

Bolt himself admitted that while he loved racing, the gruelling training required to stay at the top wasn’t exactly his favourite part of the job. So with a stack of gold medals and a legacy that would be hard to match, Bolt decided to step away from the sport that earned him fame, fortune, and legendary status.

A Painful Financial Setback

Can you imagine losing $12 million? I certainly can't help but ask Bolt; he knows all about that experience. He was in all the headlines in early 2023 when news broke that over $12.8 million had vanished from his account at a local investment firm, Stocks & Securities Ltd. (SSL). That’s a substantial amount of his hard-earned savings, which he’d planned to use to secure his future and continue his charitable work. That was a hard hit.

The news shocked not just us here in Jamaica, but the world. Bolt’s lawyer, Linton Gordon, confirmed that the former sprinter hadn’t made any withdrawals or transfers, which raised serious concerns about fraud. The case is still under investigation, with a focus on a client relationship manager at SSL who’s suspected of orchestrating the scam.

Life After the Track: Usain Bolt’s Current Endeavors

So, what has he been up to since retiring? Well, quite a lot, actually. He’s been channelling his energy into various ventures, showing that there’s more to him than just sprinting.

One of Bolt’s biggest passions is giving back to his community, and he does this through the Usain Bolt Foundation. This foundation is all about creating opportunities for education and cultural development in Jamaica. I’m talking big moves like providing schools with much-needed resources like printers and laptops to help bridge the digital divide in rural areas, making sure the next generation has the tools they need to succeed.

But it doesn’t stop there. Bolt is also heavily involved in environmental causes. Alongside billionaire Richard Branson, he helped launch the Caribbean Climate-Smart Accelerator, an ambitious initiative aimed at making the Caribbean the world’s first climate-smart zone. It’s all about protecting the region from the devastating effects of climate change while promoting sustainable development.

And then there’s music. Yep, you read that right. Usain Bolt has dabbled in the music industry. His track “Cryptic World” proved just how versatile he is.

He went on to also fulfil a childhood dream of playing professional soccer. In 2018, he made his debut with the Central Coast Mariners in Australia’s A-League. His soccer career might have been short-lived, but Bolt enjoyed every minute of it and walked away with some valuable life lessons.

Usain Bolt’s story is far from over. His impact on the world goes well beyond his lightning-fast speed. Whether it’s through his foundation, his environmental advocacy, or his creative pursuits, Bolt is proving that life after the track can be just as exciting and meaningful.

You might like these

Sharing IS Caring! Please help me get the message out by sharing this article with your friends on social media (links below). Thnx ;-)


If you found this page useful, please consider subscribing to my weekly newsletter, to get even more. 

It tells you each week about the new information that I have added, including new developments and great stories from lovers of Jamaica! 

Return to Usain Bolt from What Happened To Usain Bolt 
Return to My Island Jamaica Homepage from What Happened To Usain Bolt

References & Sources For What Happened To Usain Bolt

  1. Woodin, A. (2024, April 18). Olympic Sprinter Usain Bolt Is Inspiring a New Generation of Athletes: “Anything Is Possible.” NBC Insider Official Site. https://www.nbc.com/nbc-insider/olympics-sprinter-usain-bolt-now-record-medals-height#:~:text=Coupled%20with%20lingering%20back%20issues,during%20the%202017%20World%20Championships
  2. Usain Bolt Fraud Allegations. (n.d.). edition.cnn.com. Retrieved August 26, 2024, from https://edition.cnn.com/2023/01/19/sport/usain-bolt-fraud-allegations-jamaica-spt-intl/index.html

New! Comments

Have your say about what you just read! Leave me a comment in the box below.
Back To The Top Of This Page

New! Get My Latest Book👇🏿

JAMAICA_ON_A_BUDGET_EBOOK_COVER_LEAN

You asked, I've answered! You no longer need to save for months or years, to enjoy paradise!

JAMAICA On A Budget is your passport to experiencing what I call 'The Real Jamaica' on a budget!

I spilled the beans! sharing my top tips on finding cozy accommodations and secret gems, only the way a native could! Click Here to pick it up on my e-store and start saving now!

See The Best Of Jamaica - In Videos!

my_island_jamaica_channel_tv

My channel reaches over 140,000 subscribers worldwide and has leveraged over 11 million views, sharing, what I call 'The Real Jamaica'. Subscribe today and join our family of viewers.

Jamaica_subscribe_button

Read More ...

New! Experience The REAL Jamaica!
Book Your Private Tour here and experience Jamaica the way we (locals) do!

P.S. Didn't find what you were looking for? 
Still need help?

Click Here to try our dependable and effective Site Search tool. It works!

Or, simply click here and here, to browse my library of over 500 questions and answers! Chances are someone already asked (and got an answer to) your question.

copyscape
Back To The Top Of This Page

Like My Site? Please Click Here To Share It With Your Friends

Home   |   JOIN US   |   Site Search   |   Have Your Say   |   Archives   |   Old Archives   |   Contact   |   Disclaimer   |   TIP ME!   |   Link To Us


Do like I did! Share your passion
(about your city, hobby or experience) and make a living from it. Click Here to see how.

By Wellesley Gayle   |   Copyright © 2007-2024 My-Island-Jamaica.com   |   All rights Reserved.   |   Privacy Policy