Experts believe it was hindsight that made people say that Usain Bolt should have thrown in the towel after last year’s Olympics in Rio.

Usain Bolt’s last race as an athlete was dramatic. The 30-year-old was Jamaica’s anchor in the 4×100 meter relay. But as Saturday’s final was about to be decided, Bolt suddenly grabbed the back of his thigh in pain. The man many believe to be the greatest athlete of all time didn’t even finish in his final race. Great Britain took gold in its own country.

In the individual 100 meters, things didn’t go his way either, as the controversial Justin Gatlin became the first man to beat Bolt in the 100 meters final. Some people then asked themselves whether Bolt should have thrown in the towel after last year’s Olympics in Rio, where he won three gold medals.

– Come to think of it, that is. He can definitely do it, but then he wants to finish it in London because he has good memories from there, said TV 2 commentator and former athletics coach Johan Kaggestad.

Bolt won three gold medals (100 meters, 200 meters and 4×100 meters) at the 2012 London Olympics.

Lost a close friend in April

So it was a sad fate for the best sprinter of all time. However, on Sunday evening, he posted a message on Snapchat, promising to return to the London Stadium on Sunday night to say goodbye to fans.

– There is no doubt that he is worse than before, said Kaggestad.

– In the 100 meters, he was three percent worse than his personal record. There is a drastic decrease in performance.

He believes the reason is that Bolt is less prepared for the championship in London than before. Bolt was plagued by injuries leading up to the championships and only ran a handful of competitions. Former top Norwegian sprinter John Ertzgaard believes that one particular incident has affected the Jamaican’s running pace.

– A number of things have happened in his personal life over the past year, which means that sport may not be a priority. He lost a good friend this winter.

In April, Bolt lost his close friend Germaine Mason in a motorbike accident. Mason previously won an Olympic silver medal in the high jump.

– There is sadness hidden there and not necessarily the training session is important. “I thought he looked untrained,” Ertzgaard said.

His teammates blamed the cold

According to Jamaican team doctor Kevin Jones, Bolt’s fall in the relay was caused by a cramp in the back of his left thigh. What teammate Yohan Blake was referring to was the low temperature inside the “Call Room”, the room where the sprinters wait after warming up before going out onto the track. The relay was due to start at 22:50, but was delayed by several minutes.

– I think it affects everything. This is where we rest and warm up. I do not like it. Bolt said something about it to one of the boys. “This makes me sad, both as a friend and a teammate,” added Blake NRK.

Ertzgaard doesn’t completely agree with Blake.

– Yes, they may have been in the “On Call Room” too long, but no one else had those cramps.

Johan Kaggestad pointed out that an under-prepared Bolt would also be more susceptible to injury. He himself had not caught Blake’s comments, but was sure there were challenges regarding the room.

– The cold makes the muscles more open and that is part of the challenge of being in the “On Call Room”. They have limited ability to move. Bolt and Blake are familiar with this procedure. It’s important to keep your muscles moving even while you’re there.

– Gives very large amounts

Ertzgaard hopes Bolt’s farewell race will not take his legacy into account. He himself most remembers the two times Bolt filled Bislett during the Bislett Games.

– The rain was very heavy that year. Typically, the stadium empties immediately after the final race, while everyone is left to wait for Bolt. He delivers huge numbers and is very devoted to the audience. What he did at Bislett made a huge impression.

He would not advise Bolt to take another year to “avenge” a disappointing championship in London.

– He has nothing left to prove. I think he’s looking forward to retirement.