“Why I never made it as a footballer” — Usain Bolt

When the name Usian Bolt is mentioned, the world tends to remember him for something else, but in a recent interview with former Super Eagles star, Mikel Obi, the ‘fastest man alive’ could have made his name at another level if the right pieces had fallen into place.

The world’s fastest man and legendary sprinter, ventured into football after his illustrious track career, but his journey wasn’t as smooth as his sprints. Speaking on The Obi One Podcast, Usain Bolt shared insights into his training stint with Borussia Dortmund and revealed what he considers his biggest mistake in his football aspirations.

Initially, Bolt’s trial with Dortmund was a promotional event, courtesy of Puma’s sponsorship. Bolt recounted, “It was some training initially because Puma sponsored Dortmund. They were like, ‘You know what, come for a few days, hang out, train with the guys, and you never know what could come from it.’ It was fun.”

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However, the adventure took a different turn when Bolt decided to join the Australian club Central Coast Mariners.

Reflecting on this decision, Usain Bolt admitted:

“I think that was a mistake. The media pressure in Europe was intense, and I thought going to Australia would provide a quieter environment to develop. Friends told me the Australian league was easier, but the training was different from what I expected.”

Bolt faced challenges adapting to the football training regimen, which lacked the rigorous physical conditioning he was accustomed to in athletics. Despite this, he made notable progress, scoring twice in a trial match against Macarthur South West United.

He shared:

“Training was going well, and I was working hard. I even called my coach for a fitness program because football training was so different. I was confident that with two more months, I would be ready.”

While Bolt’s football career didn’t take off as spectacularly as his sprinting achievements, his experience in the sport remains a fascinating chapter in his life story.