Usain Bolt announces last race in Jamaica, confirms retirement

Bolt also confirmed he will retire from the sport after 2017 IAAF World Championships.

Usain Bolt
Bolt completed the triple-triple at 2016 Rio Olympics Reuters

Sprint legend Usain Bolt said on Firday that the Racers Grand Prix in June 2017 will be his last race in Jamaica.

One of the most decorated Olympic champions in the history of the Games, Bolt also confirmed he will retire from the sport after the International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) World Championships in London in August next year.

Despite his advancing years and a slight drop in pace, Bolt created history at the 2016 Rio Olympics by winning a triple-triple as he clinched the 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay titles for the third consecutive time at the Games.

He waded off the challenge from his fiercest rival Justin Gatlin and 21-year-old Canadian Andre de Grasse to the top step of the podium in 100m and 200m races in Rio de Janeiro.

Bolt now does not want to miss out on the opportunity to delight his home fans for one last time. Notably, the 30-year-old won the inaugural Racers Grand Prix in June earlier this year.

Also, he has bagged the wildcard entries for both the 100m and 200m event for the London World Championships. However, it remains to be seen whether Bolt, who had earlier opined that doing the double has become tougher, will opt to defend titles in both the events or prefer the shorter one among the two.

"The Racers Grand Prix will be my last race in Jamaica people, it will be the last time I run in Jamaica," Bolt told Television Jamaica, as quoted as saying by the Reuters.

"Yes I am definitely going to retire after the world championships in London, that will be my last one."

Meanwhile, the Jamaican government will reportedly be honouring Bolt along with the country's athletic team that took part in this year's Olympics.

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