Usain Bolt: Track legend eyes Olympic comeback at LA2028

Jamaican sprint icon Usain Bolt has expressed a desire to return to the Olympic stage at LA2028.

This time, he wants to trade his running spikes for a cricket bat and ball, where cricket is set to make its highly anticipated return after a 128-year absence.

The inclusion of cricket in the LA28 program, scheduled from July 12-29, 2028, has generated excitement among fans globally, particularly in cricket-loving nations.

For Bolt, who grew up in the Caribbean, the sport was his first love before he embarked on a historic career in track and field. Now retired from athletics, the eight-time Olympic gold medalist has hinted he would be ready to represent Jamaica once more.

In a recent interview with Esquire magazine, Bolt playfully discussed a potential return to competitive sport.

"I am happily retired from professional sport. I haven’t played cricket in a long time, but if they call, I will be ready!" he joked. These remarks have captured the imagination of the sports world as cricket prepares for its Olympic comeback.

Bolt retired from athletics in 2017 as the most decorated sprinter of all time, holding world records in the 100m and 200m. His incredible career includes eight Olympic and eleven World Championship gold medals, highlighted by his unprecedented "triple-double" in the 100m and 200m at the Beijing 2008, London 2012, and Rio 2016 Olympics.

Since his retirement, Bolt has remained involved with cricket. He served as a brand ambassador for the 2024 T20 World Cup, co-hosted by the USA and the West Indies. He also participated in a friendly match in India in 2014 alongside World Cup winners Yuvraj Singh and Harbhajan Singh.

The LA28 Olympics will feature a T20 cricket tournament with six men's and six women's teams competing for gold. Cricket's only previous Olympic appearance was in 1900 in Paris, where Great Britain defeated France to win the title.