Olympic sprinting legend Usain Bolt has openly praised Manchester United’s former striker Marcus Rashford, suggesting the football star possesses the raw speed to potentially outpace him over a short 20-meter dash.
Bolt, widely recognized as the ‘King of Speed,’ is one of the most decorated athletes in history. His incredible career saw him claim 100-meter and 200-meter Olympic gold medals for three consecutive Games: Beijing in 2008, London in 2012, and Rio in 2016. The Jamaican icon, who retired from professional athletics in 2017 with an impressive eight Olympic gold medals, also set enduring world records in the 100 meters (9.58 seconds) and 200 meters (19.19 seconds) at the 2009 World Championships in Berlin, Germany.
Despite his unparalleled achievements, the 39-year-old track legend recently admitted in an interview that Rashford, a renowned football player, might have an edge over a very short sprint. During a Talksport TV interview on September 12, Bolt was asked directly, “I read an article that you said, Rashford can overcome you to run distance 20 Meters Is it right?”
Bolt provided a clear and insightful response, confirming Rashford’s specific skill over that distance. “Yes,” he affirmed. “Rashford has a speedy tweak at first 20 meters. This is what he does and I really recognize it. But after 20 meters later, he was still at my time!” This highlights the explosive acceleration possessed by the footballer, while reinforcing Bolt’s sustained top-end speed over longer distances.
Marcus Rashford, the England international striker, made a significant move from Bolt’s beloved club, Manchester United, to Spanish giants Barcelona for the 2025-26 season. Now 27 years old, the forward has embarked on his career in Catalonia. However, he is still finding his footing, yet to register a goal or an assist in his initial three appearances in La Liga for his new club.
