Usain Bolt’s record-breaking 100m run inspired Justin Gatlin to abandon his NFL ambitions and return to track and field.
Gatlin, a former Olympic and world champion, had taken a break from athletics due to a four-year doping ban in 2006. During this time, he pursued a career in American football, trying out for the Houston Texans and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. However, everything changed in May 2008 when Bolt shattered Asafa Powell’s 100m world record by clocking 9.72 seconds in New York.
The moment reignited Gatlin’s passion for sprinting. Speaking on Bolt’s podcast ‘Ready Set Go’, Gatlin recalled how he had been training as a wide receiver when he heard the news. Watching Bolt’s record-breaking run repeatedly, he felt a deep connection to the competitive spirit of athletics. He admitted that while he was excited about Bolt’s achievement, it also sparked an internal debate—whether to continue in football, where track athletes were often seen as one-dimensional, or return to the sport where he had once been among the best. Ultimately, his love for competition pulled him back to track and field.
Later that year at the Beijing Olympics, Bolt further cemented his dominance by lowering his 100m world record to 9.69 seconds and winning gold. He followed it up with a historic 200m victory, breaking Michael Johnson’s record with a time of 19.30 seconds. A year later, Bolt shattered his own 100m mark again, running an astonishing 9.58 seconds.
Gatlin and Bolt would go on to have one of the sport’s greatest rivalries. At the London 2012 Olympics, they faced off in a legendary 100m final alongside Asafa Powell, Yohan Blake, and Tyson Gay. Bolt took gold, Blake secured silver, and Gatlin claimed bronze with a personal best of 9.79 seconds. By 2015, Gatlin had improved his time to 9.74 seconds, making him the fifth-fastest man in history.
Despite Bolt often coming out on top, Gatlin finally triumphed at the 2017 World Championships in London. In a dramatic moment, he silenced the crowd and bowed to Bolt after winning his first individual gold medal in 12 years, marking the end of their intense rivalry.
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