Usain Bolt: The Final Chapter

Kingston, Jamaica.

The home of Usain Bolt.

And they've kind of got used to having him around, as we all have.

But now, in 2017, he's announced his retirement.

And I guess the big question is, what does that mean for him,

what does that mean for these people here, and what does it mean

for a sport for which he leaves so many iconic moments?

# Top of the roster

# Real deal you can see it in my posture

# Seems like every time they take a shot they hit the crossbar

# And I move like Neymar

# Them boys ain't even on my radar

# I do my own stunts no saviour

# That is why I gotta stunt so major.

# Hype!

# Every time I'm around there's a hype

# Touchdown and the crowd gets hyped.

# Straight gassed got the whole place hyped.

# I'm a bad boy and I do what I like.

# Every time I'm around there's a hype.

Usain Bolt streaking away from the field.

It's gold for Usain Bolt!

He's done it again!

A new world record for Usain Bolt.

He's going to win the gold!

Bolt's going to do it again!

Usain Bolt!

Hello again.

Good to see you, all right.

Yeah, good, good.

Come on in.

In the shade?

No, no, you've got your own shade, mate.

You got your own shade.

# Oh cherry oh, cherry oh, baby

# Don't you know I'm in need of thee?#.

Usain, a couple of years ago, you announced to all of us

and to yourself that you are going to retire

after the Worlds in London.

Is that still a decision you're happy with?

Yeah.

Definitely still a decision I'm happy with.

It's just been, I've done all I wanted to do,

you know what I mean?

Everybody wants me to continue, but it's not as simple as it is.

I've done great in the sport.

People just want to see more and more, you know what I mean?

But you as a person have to decide that this is it.

I don't want to continue and then at the end I start losing,

because I hate losing.

No regrets at all?

No, there's no regrets.

If you look at a lot of top athletes, that's the one thing

there used to damage their career just a little bit by being

so dominant throughout their career, retired then missed the sport

and came back into the sport to something different.

I don't think my coach will coach me either.

I think he said, he actually said that to me.

You retire, that's it.

Don't feel you're going to take a year or two off and then

come back to me and go, oh, let's do this again.

It's not going to happen.

Is he happy with you retiring?

Has he tried to persuade you?

No, I think he understands to the point where he knows if I'm

not into it, I won't give it my all, so he asks me if I'm sure

and he already told me, listen, if you wanted to go

on for four more years, it would be easy for me,

but he knows how I am.

If I'm not motivated to do it then, then it's

going to be hard for me so...

Is there a little bit of trepidation?

You're always going to be nervous.

Definitely.

But I'm also excited, you know what I mean,

to try and move onto a different chapter of my life,

try something new.

Just have some me time, you know what I mean?

I'm excited but nervous at the same time.

Have you got any plans?

Anything you'd really like to do?

We have a lot of things we are working on.

I still have two companies that we're working on.

One big project that we just really started,

to try and start a clinic in Jamaica.

I think I have a lot more work, like more sponsor work,

travelling a lot more when I retire than when I was running,

so I'll have a lot more work to do.

Will that keep you satisfied?

Will that keep you waking up in the morning excited

about what the week has ahead?

Depends.

It depends what I'm doing in that day.

But I'll have more free time, you know what I mean,

so it won't be as stressful as it used to be so I can travel,

I can go on trips, do what I also want to do.

I have a bet with my managers.

They give me two years before I get a belly!

I can't let that happen.

# Always you, it was always you baby...

# It was you that I saw in my dreams last night...#

When he was a student, I was his teacher of Spanish.

He had to be average at something, so average student.

He was full of humour, given to pranks.

He was taller than the average student, and in PE,

he would decimate the opposition quite easily.

Although at the time he was ragged in terms of his form.

I was one of the senior athletes and he was much younger,

but he was a force to reckon with.

He was always meeting at our speed and even sometimes beat us.

There was this one time when William Knibb had the best

4x100 team in western Jamaica.

And we would go there, it was like us oozing to let

everybody see what we have to show.

For the students, I think it means the world to them.

It is their measuring stick, so to speak.

They aspire to be good at whatever they do.

Having him walk these walls and reach where he is,

then they know for them all things are possible.

Not everybody excels academically so at least they can use

the sports as a stepping stone to reach their goal.

He was in fifth form.

My boy, smart man.

He is my champion!

He is our champion at William Knibb, and in Trelawney

and Jamaica as a whole.

And it is hard for me to believe that he is going to put

everything to rest in London.

He wants to go and play for Manchester United

and some of these teams, well, let's see what happens!

In Jamaica, athletics is pretty much in the blood and nowhere

is that more evident than here at the National Schools Championships

or the Champs as they are known.

This is where Usain Bolt started and it's a great

testimony to the legacy that

he's leaving behind in this country, and they'll be hoping that it goes

on for a few more years after he's left.

For me it's big, because that's where we see our talent.

That's what helps us to see the talent and to develop

the talent over the years, so for me, it's a massive thing.

I think it's something that should continue for years

and years to come, because it will help us to pick

talent and then nurture it and to be world champions

and Olympic champions also.

I've been following Usain from about 14 years old,

from boys Champs when he ran for William Knibb, and first broke

the 200 metre record at the Champs.

We've had great runners come before, but none of them have

had their dominance and overall changed the sport like what Usain

did for track and field.

I went to the Championships when I was really young,

when I was supposed to go, but my coach at the time wanted

me to experience Champs before I actually went there

at the right age.

So for me, I just went there and experienced

something magnificent, you know what I mean?

It was like nothing I've ever been around.

The energy was different.

It was loud, it was packed.

It was just everything that you would expect when you're

watching the Olympics.

It was that for me at the time.

I've been to the last three Olympics, and to five

World Championships so I followed Usain and the athletes thousands

of miles around the world.

I met Usain in 2002.

He was a funny and loving youngster.

The holder for sprinters aged 15, Usain Bolt of Jamaica,

his best time in the heat is 20.58.

A good bet for the gold medal in this final.

There's no other greater feeling than competing

in front of your home crowd, accomplishing something.

I was the only individual gold at this Championship,

so to do that for my country, to give them that joy,

and to give them that glory, was nothing other than that.

Being the home crowd, people chanting your name,

it's just unbelievable.

A good start the first time, 200 final.

Second from right is Usain Bolt, going well also is Vernon Christian.

This is Usain Bolt of Jamaica.

Nice curve.

Christian going very well.

Christian on the outside.

Usain Bolt of Jamaica takes the lead in the 200 final.

Heading towards the gold medal.

Usain Bolt is the World Junior cCampion.

20.61, Usain Bolt the World Junior Champion and the city

of Kingston comes alive.

Usain has put us on the map, with Bob Marley.

I think Bob Marley and Usain Bolt are considered probably

the best well-known Jamaicans.

I just want to kind of flip back a year or two when you sort of made

the decision about retiring and then you were looking, well,

I don't know if you were looking forward to it, because it was a bit

of a difficult year, 2015, the World Championships

in Beijing, was there any point in that difficult period

where you thought you might not get this far?

No, for me, definitely, I just wanted, when I decided,

I just genuinely wanted to retire after the Olympics, but I had one

more year on my contract so, you know what...

So it was a simple as that?

One more year on the contract, one more year to keep training?

And the fans, they asked me.

When I said I'd probably retire after the Olympics they were like,

no, you need to go one more year.

So I was like, you know what, I have one more year

on my contract, why not?

So I decided to go with the fans, so it was good.

It is top billing, the stadium full, the noise building,

the atmosphere is wonderful.

And all eyes on these two.

Did what happened in 2015 almost reinvigorate you in some way,

it was almost like a comeback for Usain, wasn't it?

For me, it was a rough season.

To this day, one of my roughest seasons I've ever been through.

But for me, it just shows the world that I have to be a champion.

But for me, it just shows the will that I have to be a champion.

And what I always say is anything is possible

because through the whole season people were doubting me,

people were saying Usain is not going to make this one,

to the point where at times, small doubts crept in because I wasn't

getting to the form I needed to be.

Took me a while to get going, so for me, even in my mind

it wasa little bit of a doubt but with the confidence of my coach

and the people around me, they kind of lifted me up

and helped me to push through and get through that season.

Bolt will attempt to defend his world titles in Beijing against

Justin Gatlin, banned twice for taking illegal drugs.

Did you genuinely believe you were going to beat Gatlin?

When I started out, through the season, I had my doubts.

But when I got to the Championship and my coach says listen,

you'll be fine, you are a champion, you know what it takes to win,

You know how it is, so don't worry, go out and just execute them.

After that I was like, do you know what, let's just do this,

you know what I mean?

The confidence came back.

I was ready.

You're still going to get a little bit nervous

but I was much more confident, actually, when I got

to the Championship than throughout the season.

Men's 100 metre final.

CHEERING.

Bolt gets out pretty well, so does Rogers.

Gatlin has got out a little bit better.

Bolt and Gatlin are right together.

It's Gatlin, and Usain Bolt,

and Bolt gets it!

Usain Bolt!

He's saved his title!

He's saved his reputation.

He may have even saved his sport.

I needed to win, that's a fact.

For me, I tried to avoid talking about good and evil

and bad stuff like that, but I knew what it was,

I knew what I to do.

Number one, OK.

Number one all day every day.

Usain Bolt continues to go away, Bolt's got away.

Two golds for Bolt.

Too good for Gatlin.

I guess through your career that the 100 metres in this period

has, it's not been the event which is always had good headlines.

How have you coped with that three or career?

For me, I've learned at the start to just ignore it all,

you know what I mean?

It hard to ignore it because as soon as it goes away, it comes back.

Yes, I'm not going to be pleased that there may be athletes

in my race that are taking drugs but I can't, what can I do?

I have to just focus on running and winning,

even if they are in the race.

But you have been directly affected yourself, you have lost one

of your gold medals because of it?

It's true.

How does that make you feel?

I'm not happy about it.

Usain Bolt has lost one of his nine Olympic gold medals

and his perfect triple triple of games sprint victories.

It is after Jamaican team-mate Nesta Carter was found guilty

of doping at the 2008 Beijing Games.

I haven't actually seen Nesta since that has actually happened,

for me and him to really have a conversation, to

say, all right, what happened?

So, initially when I heard that I had to

give back my medal, I was unhappy and I was upset.

But then, I was like, you know what, I can't be upset with

somebody that I haven't talked to face-to-face, to see and to hear

and to see in his face and to listen to what he has

to say to me, you know what I mean?

I have no power over this any more.

You can't get too angry about something you can't

really change, you know?

All I have to do is to continue getting tested and proving to

the world that I'm fine.

Because it shows that if you cheat, you will

get caught.

Do you have any desire in your retirement, maybe you don't

quite know, is there anything in you that

thinks, maybe I could do

something in that period of my life?

Well, definitely, I've been talking to the president of the IAAF

and I've been fine to figure out, what could I do

at the end of my career to help the sports.

We've been in discussion, mainly him and my agent,

to try to figure out

things that I could do at the end of my career,

and I look forward to

working with the sports, because I know, when I walk

away, there will be a gap.

So, if I can help to sustain it until someone else comes along,

that can really help to push to sport and build it,

then I'll be happy.

For me, my childhood was perfect, I wouldn't change anything

about my childhood.

I grew up playing cricket, running in the streets,

playing football in the streets.

The whole community was a tightly-knit group,

and I enjoy going back home and just being a part of it.

It's wonderful.

Well, of course, I'm a little bit disappointed because I thought

he could go on for a few more years.

But he is the one in charge, he makes the decision -

as parents, we just have to go with it.

He was diagnosed as a hyperactive child, so he would always be moving,

climbing, always doing something.

So, you have to watch him.

So, it was very difficult in the early age.

Up to this day, my parents have been the most influential on my career,

you know what I mean?

My dad made the decision for me to really go into track and field.

So, throughout my career, I've always had different sort

of people throughout my career which has really helped me.

Mrs Thorpe, which was the head of sports department

when I was at school, she really supported me

and helped me to push on, and always tried to keep me focused,

because I was a mischievous kid when I was in high school!

He remains the same person, the same person.

Sometimes you would not even know that this is a world champion

that you are talking to.

All of this have to do with his background,

his parents, right?

They are humble people.

I don't know what he's going to do.

We are trying to sit down and talk with him,

what's he going to do?

I don't get it out of him yet, so I'm not sure

what he's going to do.

But I know, he's going to go into some business and so forth.

Maybe he will still stay in the sports, to do

some work, I'm not sure.

Rio almost looked easy, given 2015 etc, but I'm assuming

Rio almost looked easy, given 2015 etc, but I'm assuming

it was nothing like that?

Yeah, it was, I would say, it's never easy.

But I was in much better shape for Rio.

But in track and field, nothing is ever easy,

the workload that it takes to keep on top, or to get the level that

you need to be to compete at the best, it's no joke.

Justin Gatlin is in lane four, Usain Bolt is in lane six.

The Olympic 100m final.

Gatlin gets away well, and Bolt just left a little bit in the box.

It's Gatlin leading at the moment, and Gatlin is charging.

But here comes Usain Bolt, and Bolt is going to take it!

Usain Bolt gets it!

9.80!

A magnificent seven!

The odyssey continues!

Listen to the noise in Rio de Janeiro!

Listen to the adulation!

Look at the love for this man!

Oh, the atmosphere was good - it was better than I

thought it would be.

But for me, I think all three Olympics played a very important

part in making me who I am today, you know what I mean?

So, I can't say, this was about better one...

So, I can't say, this was a better one...

But definitely, London was the best one, atmosphere-wise,

Beijing was good, but Rio was really surprising, the energy

and the amount of people that actually came out and supported,

so that was good.

Who's going to win this one?

USA in the lead, but Bolt has got up with Japan.

And Usain Bolt is doing what he always does, bringing it home!

For Jamaica!

It's gold again!

History, history, history, history!

Usain Bolt, the greatest ever!

The World Champs - can you go to London as motivated

as you were in Rio, in Beijing?

For sure.

The one thing which keeps me going is...

Is losing!

I can't lose, you know what I mean?

It's just one of those things.

I've done all I can do in the sport, but to go out

losing is not my thing.

I definitely want to go out and do my best, as always,

to give the fans one of the best goodbyes, if possible,

you know what I mean?

To give the fans a show, because that's what they want

to see, they want to see me competing at my best.

Just say goodbye in style.

So, I'm definitely going to train hard, which I am doing,

and just try to stay on top of things and push myself

throughout until August.

So, nobody's going to worry you in London,

no new names to look out for?

For me, I don't...

You know me.

I don't really worry about people until the time is right!

But you don't know who's going to show up.

You know what I mean?

Over the years, as you've seen through my career,

there's always somebody else, so, I never try to

pinpoint one person.

So, I just sit and watch see what happens when it gets there.

Nobody going to turn into a Usain Bolt in the future

at the minute, in Jamaica?

That's a tough ask.

For me, I've seen, I've learned to just sit and watch now.

There's a few athletes that I've named over the years that

have really let me down!

Because I think it's so much easier for athletes now,

for their first contracts, they make so much money,

it's almost like football and stuff, you get paid so easily.

It's all about want, I've told De Grasse, listen, yes,

you did well at the Olympics, but do you want it?

People say, De Grasse is like...

We'll see.

Because I've seen so many athletes done great things

when they're young and then, because they done it when they're

young, they get paid, and then they start going

in the wrong direction.

So, me, I try not to name names any more, I just sit and watch.

London week as you said will be a farewell to the fans,

many of whom would have been there in 2012.

Still happy memories of those Games?

Always.

I think it's the right place to go out, because I know

London's going to be packed, it's going to be massive,

people are just happy and the energy in the city is going to be great.

So, I'm looking forward to it, man, I'm really excited to go

there and to compete again, because for me, it was one of

the best Championships of my life.

And here comes Usain Bolt!

He's pulling away, he's going to win the gold!

The champion becomes a legend!

Every day, the stadium was just always packed with people,

and just cheering on everybody and giving you a great feeling.

So, for me, it was brilliant, so I'm looking forward to going back

in that atmosphere again.

We had Super Saturday, with Mo and Jess and Greg Rutherford -

I think you had heats or semis that day - can you remember anything

about Super Saturday?

I thought it was loud for me, until Mo and Jess came on!

Oh, my god, it could get louder than this, you know?!

So, for me, just feeling that energy, and as you guys know,

I feed off the energy of the crowd, it gives me that sense

of relief and happiness, that these people have come to see

you compete at your best and perform.

For me, I really enjoy it, so I know it's going to be

just out of this world.

I hope I don't cry at the end, though.

I was going to say that - will you get emotional?

I don't know.

If I get emotional in Jamaica, I'll definitely get emotional in London.

Let's see what happens!

I'm not an emotional person, but to know that this

will be your last race, in a Championship...

We'll see.

You can hide it with a bit of sweat.

Yeah.

I sweat a lot, so, we'll see!

It's maybe hard for you to assess, but what do you think

you leave behind?

Well, for me, just a great legacy, you know what I mean?

To show to the kids that anything is possible.

That you can do it without cheating, you know what I mean?

I think that's one of the biggest things I'm happy that

I can leave in the sport, that you can do it without cheating.

If you're going to do this, it's going to be hard work and dedication

and a lot of sacrifice.

Are you going to miss the hard work, the sacrifice?

No!

Definitely not going to miss all of that!

But I will miss the competition.

Think that's one of the biggest things, the hardest things

for me to do, is always, go into a stadium and see

competition, feel the energy, then you feel like you just

want to go out there and run.

I think that's going to be one of the hardest things for me,

watching the 100m finals at the Olympics and the World

Championships, that's going to be one of the hardest things.

It's not going to mean that he's going to fade into oblivion.

He's going to be doing other things, I'm sure,

that he's going to create an impact.

And if he didn't, I think he's done enough now for his name to go

on and on and on for a LONG time to come.

I don't know what what we're going to do when he's gone.

But having Usain as a Jamaican, I'm so proud, I'm so happy.

You know, I feel like his second or third mother, you know?!

Even though we'll have people coming again running fast,

but the overall character of Usain Bolt, I don't think I'll

have that again in my lifetime.

I'm not even sure if my kids will see that again in their lifetime.

He's one in 1 million.

Well, I can't be more proud than I am, because sometimes

I wonder, I just focus and say, well, just imagine, I am the father

of the world's fastest man, he's so popular across the entire world.

What?!

So it goes.

For me, for the country, for the Caribbean, for the world

of track, we owe our gratitude to Usain Bolt.

And we thank him.

Great guy.

Do you understand the impact you've had, particularly here in Jamaica?

Well, definitely, over the years, I've learnt to understand,

and to see what I've done through other people's eyes and just

by watching and listening.

And people keep reminding me, even if you don't know yourself,

people keep reminding you that you've done such great...

I've done Jamaica proud, and stuff.

So, over the years doing this, I've really learnt to understand

the impact that I've heard on the sports, just

by people themselves.

To be role models to the kids and for everybody, it's

something that I enjoy, you know what I mean?

Because when I was growing up, I wanted to be like Michael

Jordan, Muhammad Ali.

So, when kids say, Usain, you've inspired me to do greater,

or, thank you for being such a hero, it feels good, you know what I mean?

I live for this, so it's good.

I really enjoyed this brief visit, because it's helped cement for me

a lot of the thoughts I already had about Usain Bolt.

I've had some of my greatest moments in terms of sitting

in the commentary box, commentating on him,

and I really should have thanked him more for that!

The problem that we've all got, then, is, what now?

There's no turning back, he is leaving, he is going.

He leaves behind all of these great memories.

And despite what anybody might say, despite people saying that sport

goes on, and athletics will be OK, there's one thing which they can't

argue with, is that we're all going to miss him.

Shortly after the filming of this interview, one

of Usain's closest friends, Germaine Mason, sadly

died in a road accident.

Germaine represented Jamaica in the high jump

in his early career, before switching allegiance

to Great Britain, and winning a silver medal at the 2008 Olympic

Games.

He was 34 years old.