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Usain Bolt , yes that Usain Bolt—the fastest man to ever grace the track—recently opened up about how things have shifted now that he’s 39. He confessed that even walking up a flight of stairs leaves him out of breath. Let that sink in. The man who once owned 100m sprints says climbing stairs feels like a workout.


“No, I mostly do gym workouts. I’m not a fan, but I think now that I’ve been out for a while I have to actually start running. Because when I walk up stairs I get out of breath. I think when I start working on it fully again, I will probably have to do some laps just to get my breathing right," Bolt told Guardian.

Ever since retiring in 2017, Bolt seems to have traded sprints and world records for closer-to-home vibes. He hasn’t really followed athletics much, until recently. Watching Melissa Jefferson-Wooden and Oblique Seville win gold got him back into the game. That, and seeing track & field events again made him think: maybe I need to get my cardio back.

At home, his days are way more chill. He wakes just in time to see his kids off to school, maybe hits the gym if he’s feeling motivated, or just vegs out with a series. He’s now big on Lego. Yes, Lego. When the toy bricks call, Bolt answers.

Hearing this from Usain Bolt is kind of beautiful. It’s a reminder that even legends slow down, even Usain Bolt gets winded climbing steps, even icons trade the roar of stadiums for movie nights and toy building. It doesn’t make you less—it makes you human.

Bolt’s honesty about “losing gas” walking stairs, lounging at home, finding joy in Lego… that’s relatable. We all have that moment where we realize we can’t do what we did five, ten years ago. And knowing someone as big as Bolt feels that too? It’s oddly comforting.

But even in his downtime, his body keeps reminding him that he’s not pulling 100 meter dashes anymore. Walking upstairs? Not easy. He knows he should probably start running again, gently. “Some laps just to get my breathing right,” he said. He doesn’t expect miracles, and no, world-records aren’t coming back, but he’s not ready to be winded on his own steps either.

Even if he’s not tearing up tracks anymore, Bolt’s presence is still magnetic. During the 100m finals in Tokyo, he showed up, struck his signature “To Da World” pose, and soaked in applause from tens of thousands. People still adore him. He’s still Bolt, you know?

Bolt pointed out that even with all the advances in spikes and track surfaces, he thinks today’s sprinters just don’t quite match up to his generation. Why? Talent. He said his generation was “just more talented.” He also gave a nod to women in athletics, saying they're doing amazing things, especially with newer gear and tech. Still, for him, the sprints of the past left a mark.