Usain Bolt Returns to Japan for World Championships

Usain Bolt is back in Japan, 18 years after his first global championship medals, to watch a new era of Jamaican sprinting.

What brings Usain Bolt to Japan?

Bolt, a 39-year-old retired athlete, looks forward to the women’s and men’s 100m finals in the Tokyo Olympic Stadium. He will bid farewell to Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, a legendary champion who won her first global title at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Who are the Jamaican sprinters competing?

Jamaica boasts the world’s fastest man of 2025, Kishane Thompson, and Oblique Seville, who beat Olympic 100m gold medalist Noah Lyles in July and August races. Thompson led the 100m final at the 2024 Paris Olympics but was overtaken by Lyles by five thousandths of a second.

What does Usain Bolt think of the competitors?

“I think we’re looking good this year,” Bolt told Lewis Johnson, commenting on Thompson and Seville's chances. Bolt believes Thompson has overcome his jitters from the previous year and Seville is due for a win.

What about Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce's retirement?

Bolt praises Fraser-Pryce, saying “there’s no words to talk about Shelly-Ann” and admires her dedication to the sport. Fraser-Pryce won her first global title at 21 and has shown that hard work and believing in oneself can lead to success. Bolt looks forward to watching her last race and cheering her on in the stadium. Bolt and Fraser-Pryce both won their first global titles in 2008 and have been dominant forces in track and field. The 2025 World Championships will be an exciting event with Jamaica competing for medals in both the women’s and men’s 100m events.