'I have outdone myself' - Sports clinic at top of retirement plan

Nine-time Olympic gold medallist, Usain Bolt, says upon retirement, he will be giving back to the sport, as he looks to open a sports clinic here in Jamaica.

The world's fastest man of all time, who has been unbeaten over three successive Olympics, will now turn his attention to the IAAF World Championships in London next year, after which he is expected to retire officially from the sport, at age 31.

Bolt is the only track and field athlete to defend his Olympic titles at three successive Games.

"I have reached the top of the Olympics, and I think it's time for me to get out of the sport and help in any other way I can possibly help, so that's what I am gonna do," he reasoned.

When asked by The Gleaner if he saw his career reaching the dizzying heights it has, Bolt said hard work and belief paid off.

"I have outdone myself. As a country boy growing up, I never thought that I would be at this level, and it's just one thing my dad always told me - to work for what I wanted, and that's what I did throughout the years with everything I won," he outlined.

"I just kept on setting goals for myself, and I have outdone myself, and I feel proud and happy with what I have done," said the athlete from Sherwood Content, Trelawny.

"One of the things that I am working towards is trying to open a Sports clinic in Jamaica. That's one thing that's always on my mind," he told the media.

BETTER CARE

"Especially for the youth in track and field because I think injury has always been a problem for youth coming up, and I also would like them to get better care. I also would like to stick with the track and field and stay as close as possible to track and field, so that's one thing," he explained of his retirement plans.

Bolt was responding to questions on his first day on the job as Digicel's chief speed officer, at the Digicel's regional headquarters, downtown Kingston.

The iconic sprinter, widely regarded as one of the greatest ever, said, "I will also be working with Digicel to make sure I keep the high standards of the past."

He stressed that it was important to leave the sport while on top.

"For me, I have done everything I wanted to do. I have accomplished all my goals. When you accomplish all your goals, there's no reason to stick around in a sport when you don't have the drive, or you don't have no more goals. You should just leave the sport," he pointed out.