Skip to content

Usain Bolt wins emotional final race in Jamaica

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Usain Bolt made an emotional farewell in a sold-out stadium in Jamaica by winning his final 100 metres on home soil

Usain Bolt overcame a rare bout of nerves and a slow start to produce a winning farewell in front of his home fans in Jamaica.

The sprint great, winner of eight Olympic gold medals, will retire from competitive athletics after the World Championships in London in August.

The 30-year-old's final race in Kingston, at a meeting featuring most of the world's leading athletes, attracted a crowd of more than 30,000, including the island's Prime Minister Andrew Holness and IAAF president Sebastian Coe.

Usain Bolt of Jamaica salutes the crowd as he crosses the finish line of his final race in home country during the Racers Grand Prix at the national stadiu
Image: Bolt salutes as he crosses the line to win his final race in Jamaica

Bolt was slowly out of the blocks but quickly took command of the race and crossed the line in 10.03 seconds before making an emotional victory lap in front of his adoring fans.

"I don't think I've ever been that nervous running a 100m. I think that was possibly one of my worst races. My execution was poor, my start was poor as always. I think in the last bit I lost it a little," Bolt said.

"But I didn't expect anything spectacular. [It was] my first race since January when I ran a 150m and some relays in Australia so I just wanted to stay injury free, put on a show for the crowd and shown them I'm thankful for the support over the years.

Usain Bolt (C) of Jamaica celebrates after winning 100m "Salute to a Legend " race during the Racers Grand Prix at the national stadium in Kingston, Jamaic
Image: One final Lightning Bolt celebration for the athletics superstar after winning

"Just the atmosphere and the people, the support they came out and give me tonight, it was really nerve-racking. I never expected this, I knew it was going to be big, the stadium was ram packed so thank you guys for coming out and supporting me."

Latest Athletics Stories

Mo Farah was also in action at the Racers Grand Prix event, winning the 3,000m in a time of seven minutes, 41.20 seconds ahead of Australian Patrick Tiernan and Jamaica's Kemoy Campbell.

Mo Farah of Britain celebrates after crossing the finish line to win 3000m race during the Racers Grand Prix at the national stadium in Kingston, Jamaica,
Image: Mo Farah was also able to bring out his 'Mobot' after winning the 3,000m in Kingston

South African star Wayde van Niekerk continued his fine form with a world's best run of 19.84 seconds - also a national record - in winning the 200m.

But there was a shock defeat for 800m great David Rudisha, who ran his fastest time of the season so far but was caught and passed by Kenyan team-mate Willy Tarbei, who won the race in one minute, 44.86 seconds.

Around Sky