Zimpapers Logo

KINGSTON. – World athletics chief Sebastian Coe says Usain Bolt will retire as the Muhammad Ali of track and field, hanging up his spikes as the greatest sprinter of all time. Coe was at Kingston’s National Stadium on Saturday to watch Bolt run his last race on Jamaican soil before he retires at the World Championships in London.

In an interview on Sunday, International Association of Athletics Federations chief Coe said he had been determined to pay homage to Bolt as his glittering career begins its victory lap.

“Just instinctively you knew it was going to be a big moment,” Coe said.

“This is where his home is. I sense people here recognised that there was going to be an outpouring of emotion and warmth last night which I just wanted to witness.

“And what was fascinating is those people who came up to me who had flown in from other continents to be here. People instinctively knew that they were going to witness something that was going to be special and unique, and it was.”

Bolt duly delivered a 100m victory in 10.03 seconds for a sea of 30 000 fans bedecked in yellow and green. – AFP.