Usain Bolt has never been one to mince words, and when it came to Justin Gatlin’s on-track antics, he was always entertained. “I enjoy watching Justin. It’s fun for me to see him in his element,” Bolt once said, recalling how Gatlin used to pace back and forth like a man possessed. But there was one moment when Gatlin’s actions seemed to cross a line, the infamous 2011 “lane spat” incident.
For years, Bolt brushed it off, never making a big deal about it. But now, after more than a decade, he has finally received something he never really asked for an official apology from Gatlin himself. It took 14 years, but the two sprinting legends have finally put the controversy to rest.
The incident took place at the 2011 World Challenge Meeting in Zagreb, Croatia. Gatlin had just returned from a four-year ban, and this was his first showdown against Bolt. Despite the humid conditions, Bolt dominated the 100m race, clocking 9.85 seconds to secure the win. But what happened next caught everyone’s attention.
Speaking on the ‘High Performance’ podcast in 2024, Bolt recalled, “I was walking back, and he was walking towards me, and he spit across my lane in front of me.” At the time, Bolt laughed it off, fully aware that Gatlin was trying to get in his head. It didn’t faze him then, and it doesn’t bother him now. But nearly a year later, during the *Ready Set Go* podcast on February 27, 2025, the two came face to face, and Gatlin finally offered a direct apology.
When asked by host Rodney Green if he regretted spitting, Gatlin quickly responded, “I apologize, I apologize.” Bolt, ever the laid-back competitor, wasn’t dwelling on it. “Yo, it’s not even anything bad,” he said, making it clear he never saw it as a serious offense.
Gatlin then explained his side of the story, saying he had been so locked in on the race that he wasn’t even thinking about playing mind games. “I don’t even think at that moment I was trying to do any little petty trickery,” he said. “I had allergies. I was just trying to clear my mouth so I could run with my sinuses. It was never like a ‘Forget Bolt’ kind of thing.”
Looking back, it’s easy to see why Gatlin’s actions were misinterpreted. At the time, Bolt was already a global superstar, having won double sprint gold at the 2008 Beijing Olympics both in world record time. Gatlin, on the other hand, was trying to reclaim his spot after his ban. Many assumed he was attempting to make a statement by intimidating Bolt, but he insists that wasn’t the case.
Interestingly, Bolt never viewed it as disrespect. In fact, years later, he admitted to CNN that the moment actually helped him shift his mindset about racing. “I knew he was trying to intimidate me, but honestly, it taught me a lot,” he reflected. Over time, he learned to approach competition with a more relaxed attitude, no longer letting external distractions get to him.
Now, Bolt simply enjoys the sport for what it is. “Today, it doesn’t really bother me. I just go there, enjoy myself, and relax. It’s just one of those things over the years, the game has changed,” he said. His ability to remain unfazed, even in the most intense moments, is a testament to his champion mentality.
Sprinting in the past was a different world—full of fierce rivalries and intimidation tactics. Bolt himself acknowledged that Gatlin’s move made sense in that era, where competitors played mind games to gain an edge. But his calm, easygoing approach signaled a shift in the sport.
What do you think? Has the mindset in sprinting evolved over the years? Let us know your thoughts!
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