Gold medallist Usain Bolt stands on the podium during the medal ceremony for the Men’s 4x100m final during the athletics at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in Rio de Janeiro on August 20, 2016. / AFP PHOTO / Eric FEFERBERG
The bruising NFL isn’t on Usain Bolt’s post-athletics agenda, but Jamaica’s sprint superstar says he’d answer a call from his beloved Manchester United in a heartbeat.
Bolt, who capped his glittering Olympic career with a third straight sprint treble in Rio last month, is on a media blitz in the United States, and spoke Friday to Outside the Lines.
Bolt said he’s seen enough of the NFL to know he isn’t interested in pursuing the gridiron game after he hangs up his sprint spikes after next year’s World Championships.
“I’m not really a contact sports kind of guy,” Bolt said.
While Bolt’s speed and height have prompted speculation as to what kind of wide receiver he might make, he said his preference would be to run the long passing route “and just keep going” rather than be a target of the punishing hits of the NFL.
“Too much pain, I’ve seen it,” he said.
Bolt does harbor one non-athletics sporting dream, however, and if Premier League powerhouse Manchester United called he would be on his way.
“If they called me right now to say ‘we need you right now’ I’m on the next plane to England,” he said.