Usain Bolt Reveals the One Footballer He’d Love to Have Raced in His Prime
Usain Bolt, the legendary Jamaican sprinter, has already hung up his running shoes, but he’s still got the competitive fire burning within him. In a recent interview, Bolt revealed the one footballer he’d love to have raced against in his prime – and it’s not who you might expect.
Bolt’s Dream Opponent
Speaking ahead of the 2024 Olympics in Paris, Bolt was asked which footballer he’d like to test his pace against. And his answer was perhaps not the most surprising, given the Olympics are being hosted by France this summer. "I would love to have competed with Kylian Mbappé in my prime to see how close he would be (to me)," said Bolt. "I feel one day he just needs to run 100 meters and let me see the time."
A Record-Breaking Speedster
For those who may not know, Bolt recorded a top speed of 27.8mph (44.72 km/h) during his world record run at the 2009 World Championships. Mbappé, on the other hand, has also clocked some impressive speeds in recent seasons. In February 2021, he ran the length of the pitch in 11 seconds during a Ligue 1 clash against Marseille, recording a top speed of 22.4mph.
The Simulation
While we’ll never get the chance to see a prime Bolt take on Mbappé, one YouTube channel has attempted to answer the question of who would win out of a race between the two. Speed Showdown simulated a race between the two men, using Mbappé’s fastest ever recorded speed of 23.6mph. The experiment shows a variety of camera angles of the virtual race, including a POV from Mbappé, who is immediately overtaken by Bolt before finishing a distant second.
Bolt’s True Pride
But Bolt’s 100m record isn’t his proudest achievement. Speaking on a recent episode of The Obi One podcast, Bolt revealed that his 200m record is actually his "baby". "For me, the 200m is my baby," he said. "The 100m is the pinnacle, but the 200m is where I truly excelled."
The Verdict
So, who would win in a race between Bolt and Mbappé? While we’ll never know for certain, one thing’s for sure – it would be an epic showdown. And who knows, maybe one day we’ll get to see these two superstars go head-to-head.
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