Usain Bolt says stairs leave him 'out of breath' as retirement centers on family life and Lego

Usain Bolt, the eight-time Olympic champion and world-record holder, said walking up stairs now leaves him "out of breath" as he settles into a retired life focused on family, occasional ambassador work and a new hobby: Lego.

The 39-year-old Jamaican, who ran his final race in 2017, told The Telegraph that he has largely become a stay-at-home parent to his three children with partner Kasi Bennett — daughter Olympia Lightning, 5, and sons Thunder, 4, and Saint Leo. Bolt said the drop-off in competitive activity has meant even basic exertion sometimes requires a return to disciplined training. "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. "I mostly do gym workouts. I think when I start working out fully again, I probably have to do some laps just to get my breathing right."

Bolt was in Tokyo for the World Athletics Championships, his first appearance at such an event since retiring in 2017, and received an enthusiastic reception from fans. He said his typical day now revolves around his children: waking to see them off to school, exercising if he feels like it, watching television and spending quiet hours building Lego while they are at school.

The sprinting icon, whose 9.58-second 100-metre world record set at the 2009 world championships in Berlin still stands, has not entirely stepped away from sport. After retiring from track, he explored a short-lived football career in 2018, training with Norwegian side Stromsgodset and Australian A-League club Central Coast Mariners. He scored in a friendly for the Mariners but left the club in November 2018. Former Perth Glory forward Andy Keogh later joked that Bolt's first touch was "like a trampoline." Bolt announced the end of his sporting pursuits in January 2019.

Bolt said he still undertakes ambassadorial responsibilities for brands and follows the sport, and offered a blunt assessment of why his 100m mark has endured. "You want the real answer? We’re just more talented," he said, adding that the men of his era were "way more talented" than the current crop. He acknowledged rising performances among female sprinters and pointed to compatriot Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and developments in equipment as part of the evolving landscape.

A self-described Manchester United fan, Bolt has combined public appearances with private family life since leaving competition. His comments underscore the transition many elite athletes face after retirement: a shift from structured training and international travel to a more domestic routine, punctuated by occasional returns to the sport in a different capacity. He continues to be a prominent figure in athletics circles, drawing attention when he attends major meets and maintaining a public profile outside the competitive arena.