Usain Bolt: Being a legend means being myself

It's just one day away to the IAAF World Championships in the United Kingdom. Usain Bolt will be calling time on his career after the final race in London. Dominating sprinting over the best part of the last decade, the Jamaican superstar said he has done all that he wanted to do by winning all the honors in his field. With that in mind, he will go ahead with his plan to bid farewell to the sprint world at the age of 30.

Usain Bolt celebrates with fans after winning the final of the men's 200m athletics event at the 2015 IAAF World Championships at the "Bird's Nest" National Stadium in Beijing on August 27, 2015.

Nine years after stunning the world by winning 100m, 200m, 4x100m gold medals at the Beijing Olympics, the Jamaican is still the focal point of international media.

A few days ago, IAAF President Sebastian Coe said Bolt is the greatest sprinter of all time, comparing him with champion boxer Muhammad Ali.

“Usain Bolt is a genius,” said Coe. “I can’t think, other than Muhammad Ali, of anybody that has so had an impact inside or beyond their sport,” he added.

Bolt shared his thoughts on being a legend, saying that it just means being himself no matter on the track or off the track. He added that quite enjoyed the process along the way in which he could keep people smiling.

The record holder also said it was difficult to predict how long his records of both men's 100m and 200m would remain intact. He has attributed his success to how hard he trained, and sheer dedication.

Being an eight-time Olympic champion and 11-time world champion, Bolt will walk away from athletics after the upcoming World Championships in London. But his glory and influence will remain in many years to come.

(CGTN)