Usain Bolt drops hint about cricket comeback at Los Angeles 2028 Olympics

Usain Bolt Eyes Olympic Comeback — This Time with a Cricket Bat

Jamaican sprinting legend Usain Bolt has revealed a surprising new ambition: representing his country in cricket at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics. Cricket is set to return to the Games after a 128-year absence, running from July 12 to 29, 2028, and Bolt says he would happily answer the call if Jamaican cricket authorities reach out.

“I am happily retired from professional sport. I haven’t played cricket in a long time, but if they call, I will be ready! [Laughs],” Bolt told Esquire magazine.

Before becoming the world’s fastest man, Bolt grew up in the cricket-mad Caribbean and dreamed of being a fast bowler. It was only in high school, on the advice of his cricket coach, that he turned to sprinting — a decision that changed sporting history.

Bolt retired from athletics in 2017 as the most decorated sprinter ever, with eight Olympic gold medals and 11 World Championship titles. He swept the 100m and 200m titles at three consecutive Olympics — Beijing 2008, London 2012, and Rio 2016 — and still holds the world records of 9.58s (100m) and 19.19s (200m) set at the 2009 Berlin World Championships.

Bolt’s cricket connections are real: he played a friendly match in India in 2014 alongside Yuvraj Singh and Harbhajan Singh and was brand ambassador for the 2024 ICC T20 World Cup.

At LA28, six men’s and six women’s teams will compete, each with up to 15 players, and medal matches are scheduled for July 20 (women) and July 29 (men). Cricket last appeared at the Olympics in Paris 1900, when Great Britain defeated France for the gold — a historic one-off now set to return in style.