Usain Bolt says stairs leave him ‘out of breath’ as retired life centres on family and Lego

Usain Bolt, the eight-time Olympic gold medallist and world-record 100 metres sprinter, said he now loses his breath climbing stairs and spends much of his time at home raising his children and building Lego.

The 39-year-old Jamaican — who retired from competitive athletics in 2017 — told The Telegraph that everyday life has replaced training as his primary focus. "I’m not a fan, but I think now that I’ve been out for a while, I have to actually start running because when I walk upstairs I get out of breath," he said. He added that he mostly does gym workouts and will need to "do some laps just to get my breathing right." He also described waking up to see his children off to school and then "chill[ing] out," and said he has taken to playing with Lego while the kids are at school.

Bolt and his partner, Kasi Bennett, are parents to daughter Olympia Lightning and sons Thunder and Saint Leo. He has combined family life with occasional public roles, including ambassadorial work for brands, and this month attended the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo — his first appearance at such an event since retiring in 2017, according to his comments to the British newspaper.

Although he described a relaxed domestic routine, Bolt’s post-retirement years also included a brief attempt at professional football. In 2018 he trained with Norwegian club Strømsgodset and Australian side Central Coast Mariners, scoring in a friendly for the Mariners and spending several months with the club before leaving in November 2018. Former Perth Glory forward Andy Keogh joked at the time that Bolt's first touch was "like a trampoline." In January 2019 Bolt said he had finished his pursuit of another professional sporting career.

Bolt’s athletic legacy remains firmly tied to track and field. His 100 metres world record of 9.58 seconds, set at the 2009 World Championships in Berlin, still stands. Reflecting on performances across eras, Bolt told The Telegraph that talent explains the gap between his generation and current male sprinters. "You want the real answer? We’re just more talented," he said. He also acknowledged the progress of female sprinters, citing compatriot Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and recent developments in footwear technology, saying the younger women "are coming up" and running faster times.

Since retiring, Bolt has balanced public appearances with private life. He remains a high-profile figure in sport, regularly drawing enthusiastic receptions at meets and events, and his visits to championships have been noted for the attention they attract. He said his priorities are raising his children and enjoying downtime, including watching television series and taking time to "just chill" when his schedule allows.

Bolt’s comments underline the shift many elite athletes experience after leaving competition: from regimented training and travel to a slower routine focused on family, occasional professional commitments and personal hobbies. He said he may reintroduce more structured running into his workouts to improve his breathing but gave no indication of returning to competition.

His public reflections also serve as a reminder of his place in athletics history and of ongoing debates about changes in performance, equipment and training across generations of sprinters.