“The First Time We Raced, He Spat Across My Lane” — Bolt on Gatlin Rivalry

Usain Bolt at the “High Performance” podcast

Usain Bolt and Justin Gatlin were polar opposites with one thing in common: Both believed they were unbeatable. Over a decade, the two became synonymous with Olympic sprinting and their intense rivalry often felt as much mental as it was physical.

Unbreakable Belief, Different Styles

Reflecting on Gatlin’s mentality at the High Performance podcast, Bolt said:

"I think that's one thing that I've always respected about Justin. Every race, he believed he was going to win."

This conviction was something Gatlin wore on his sleeve. "He’d be pacing, walking back and forth. You know, like a crazy person," [Bolt laughed], noting that for Gatlin it was all part of his psych-up ritual. Meanwhile, Bolt was famously chill.

"I always knew he wasn’t going to beat me, especially if I was prepared."

Justin Gatlin, Athens 2004 Olympic Champion

Intimidation Games from a Different Era

In their early days, Gatlin made attempts to enter Bolt’s mind ahead of the race.

"I remember the first time we raced, he spat across my lane”

“I think we were in Zagreb. He spat, trying to throw me off. But I knew what he was trying to do. I laughed. All that matters is that when we line up and the gun goes off, you better be ready."

According to Bolt, Gatlin’s antics were throwbacks to a different time in track. “Back in the days, it was all about throwing off your competitors, trying to intimidate them. But I was never about that.”

Instead, Bolt was the one known for fist-bumping kids behind the blocks — gestures that, while friendly, had their own effect on competitors, Bolt didn’t deny it.

Usain Bolt and Justin Gatlin, World Championships Beijing 2015

2014 and 2015

Years ago, Gatlin himself admitted that when Bolt broke onto the scene in 2008, he "raised the bar for all sprinters." And Gatlin responded by setting the pace in 2014 and 2015, running six of the seven fastest 100m times each year. But Bolt always peaked at the right time and his laid-back confidence kept him on top. As Gatlin put it:

"When he’s down, he can come back up, and when he’s up, he’s up the highest."

Finding Fuel in the Rivalry

For Bolt, by the time the Rio 2016 Olympics were just weeks ahead, the rivalry with Gatlin was crucial. "Throughout the year, I was struggling with motivation because I'd already won everything," Bolt said.

"I was tired. Injuries made it twice as hard. But then, I saw this interview where they asked Justin if he was gonna win. He said, ‘Yes, I’m gonna win, and I’ll go on a tour around the world with my gold medals.’ I thought, ‘Oh, no way. You’re not gonna win.’”

“If I hadn’t seen that, it probably would have been different. But I knew I had to get to training — I wasn’t gonna let him beat me.”

The fierce competition between the two pushed them both to be better, leaving fans around the world on the edge of their seats every time they lined up. Competing against each other is what drove them to greatness, setting a standard of rivalry that has not been matched ever since.

Were you team Gatlin or Bolt? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!