After completing his interviews in the wee hours of Saturday morning, Usain Bolt, who has said the Rio Games are his last Olympics, tried his hand at Javelin at Rio Olympic Stadium — with most of the lights in the stadium having already been turned off.
Just after 1 a.m., Bolt urged the remaining staff inside the stadium to cheer him on before launching his arrow against a backdrop of empty seats. Usain Bolt, now a 9-time Olympic champion, ties the track and field record of 9 Olympic gold medals which is held by Finland’s Paavo Nurmi and Carl Lewis of the United States.
Bolt took a couple throws of the javelin and requested a formal measurement of his attempts, with his best being measured at an impressive 55 metres. He then posed for some pictures afterwards and left.
And, to put that into perspective, the Olympic gold medalist of the Javelin event recorded 90.30 metres and the 12th place finisher recorded 79.12 metres.
However, Bolt became the first athlete in history to win gold in the Men’s 100m, 200m and 4x100m at three consecutive Olympic Games after winning gold in all three events at the Beijing 2008, London 2012 and Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
“What else can I do to prove to the world I am the greatest?” Bolt said after his 200-meter final win in Brazil. “I am trying to be one of the greatest. Be among Muhammad Ali and Pele. I hope after these Games I will be in that bracket.”
This begs the question: should Bolt go for his 10th Olympic gold? The Javelin Throw requires less training compared to sprinting.
