It has been nine years since althletic’s icon Usain Bolt sprinted off into a golden sunset, yet the shadow cast by the ‘World’s Fastest Man’ remains as imposing as ever. While the world records he shattered in Berlin (100m and 200m) remain untouched, the Jamaican has seamlessly pivoted from track dominator to global ambassador.
Now serving as Puma’s Director of Performance, Bolt touched down in Doha this week not to compete, but to preside over a key piece in the region’s growing athletic ambition: the Doha Marathon.
With his 40th birthday on the horizon, Bolt occupies a rarefied space in the sporting pantheon: a living legend who is young enough to arguably still compete, yet wise enough to know when the race is truly run. We sat down with the eight-time Olympic gold medallist to discuss the Middle East’s running boom, the realities of fatherhood, and why—despite the rumours—he won’t be padding up for the Olympic cricket team just yet.
ESQUIRE: Welcome back to Qatar! You’re in town ahead of the Doha Marathon. Have you ever run a marathon?
USAIN BOLT: No, I was a sprinter. We train to run very fast for a short distance. Marathon runners train to run over a much longer distance. Both involve running but are completely different events. I can’t see myself ever running a marathon.
ESQ: What’s the furthest race you’ve ever run?
UB: I jogged a 5k for a charity event one time, but generally when I was training we ran multiple repetitions over a short distance. We didn’t really run more than 400m continuously.
ESQ: These days, do you find yourself embracing the role of the mentor, or do you still feel the instinct to defend your territory?
UB: I often get asked for advice by other runners and try to help where I can. I have always been someone who likes helping and motivating others to achieve their goals. I think that is the way I was brought up by my parents.
ESQ: Which athletes competing today are you most excited about?
UB: I think the top male and female athletes are Mondo Duplantis and Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone. They have been winning consistently and breaking records for several years. They always bring their ‘A game’ when it matters.
ESQ: You are here for the PUMA Shakeout Run event. What surprises you about the local running communities in the Middle East?
UB: I see that there is a running boom in the region. I met some local runners today—it is always great to see so many people running and developing a community here.
ESQ: When you hear the title “World’s Fastest Man,” does it still fill you with pride, or has the novelty worn off?
UB: Being called the ‘World’s Fastest Man’ will never get old!
ESQ: You’ve been with Puma since you were 16. It is notoriously difficult for successful men to make new, genuine relationships after 30. How intentional are you about keeping your inner circle tight?
UB: I have had the same people around me since the start of my career—my family, friends, coach, agent, and manager. It is always important to surround yourself with people you can trust.
ESQ: What does your ambassadorial role involve these days?
UB: I am currently ‘Director of Performance’ at Puma. I am involved in different aspects of the business in a range of sports. Last night I attended a football match in Riyadh, today I was at a running event in Doha, and tomorrow I open a Puma store and visit a school.
ESQ: We last spoke two years ago, and you mentioned your kids didn’t quite “get” who you were. Now that they are in school, has that dynamic changed?
UB: My kids are only four and five years old, so they are still learning about who I am and what I achieved in sports.
ESQ: Your love of cricket is well known. With the sport returning to the Olympics in Los Angeles in 2028, is there a tiny part of you considering a swansong with the Jamaican cricket squad?
UB: I am happily retired from professional sport. I haven’t played cricket in a long time, but if they call, I will be ready! [Laughs]
ESQ: You are turning 40 this year. If the first phase of your life was about external success, what does this next phase look like for you?
UB: I hope the next phase of my life will continue on the current path. I keep myself busy with my family, friends, work, and giving back. I enjoy watching my children grow up and hope to stay healthy and happy for many years to come.
Usain Bolt is a brand ambassador and Director of Performance at Puma
