Usain Bolt on cricket, chilling out... and Chicken McNuggets

Olympic gold medallist Usain Bolt reveals the truth about partying, and his cricketing skills, in an exclusive Australian interview.

Usain Bolt celebrates with his trademark “Lightning Bolt” pose after winning gold.

WHEN did you figure out that you could run really, really fast?

I think initially everybody learns how fast they can run at school, when racing against other kids, but it was at the World Junior Championships in 2002, when I was 15 and won against the under-20s, that I started thinking I could make a career out of athletics.

What’s the fastest you’ve had to run for something like a bus?

I don’t really run much off the track — unless I’m playing football or something. I take life easy when not training or competing.

You’ve repeatedly called yourself “lazy”. Describe your dream day off.

Just chilling out, playing video games, watching sport or movies, and hanging out with friends.

You’ve said that if you weren’t sprinting, you’d be a very good cricketer. In fact, you said, “I think I would probably have been the best.”

My dad was really into cricket when I was younger, so I automatically developed an interest in it, too. I think if I hadn’t been an athlete, I would have probably been a professional cricketer.

A batsman or bowler?

I was a bowler.

Would you be better than, say, Shane Warne or Matthew Hayden?

Those guys were pretty good.

Is it true you eat Chicken McNuggets before races?

I think this is a myth that started at the Beijing Olympics in 2008. I didn’t much like the food in the Olympic village so I ate a lot of chicken nuggets. Since then, people always talk [to me] about nuggets, but I actually prefer hot wings!

Usain Bolt tasted gold yet again at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

Olympic gold medals aside, what makes you happy day-to-day?

I am a chilled-out person. I like hanging out with my friends and having a laugh. I hope to eventually settle down and have a family, but I’m in no hurry to do it now.

There was a lot of attention around your partying in Rio after completing the “triple triple”. How much fun did you really have?

I only went out once in Rio, but when I got back to London I had fun partying for a week. I had a lot of my close friends there and we just celebrated my success.

We saw lots of photos of you in clubs. Is that one of the pitfalls of having paparazzi following you?

It is part of the job; you can’t get stressed about it. I just get on with life — if they want to photograph me having fun, no problem.

You’re coming to Australia for Nitro Athletics, a new team-based track and field competition. Which events are you looking forward to most?

It is going to be a lot of fun. Athletics needs some new exciting events. I think the mixed relays will be cool as some strategy may come into play.

Is it true you’re retiring this year?

Yes — 2017 will be my last championship year. I have lots of other things to do with my Foundation, being an ambassador for the brands I work with, and my own business interests.

Usain Bolt headlines the Nitro Athletics competition in Melbourne, February 4, 9 and 11; nitroathletics.com.au.

Originally published as Usain Bolt on cricket, chilling out... and Chicken McNuggets