In light of World Athletics unveiling a landmark decision to award prize money to Olympic medalists starting from the Paris 2024 Games, Usain Bolt, the iconic Jamaican sprinter, playfully queried, “Any retroactive payment?” This cheeky remark from Bolt came in response to the announcement made on Wednesday, April 10, sparking a mix of laughter and nostalgia within the athletics community.
This new initiative by World Athletics introduces a significant shift in the sport’s reward system, promising Olympic champions a prize of US$50,000. This move is part of a broader scheme that allocates a total of US$2.4 million across 48 athletic events. By the Los Angeles 2028 Games, the program will expand to include silver and bronze medalists, ensuring a wider recognition of Olympic athletes’ achievements.
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Relay teams competing in Paris 2024 are also included in this financial reward plan, with each team set to receive an equal share of the prize money, further broadening the scope of athletes who will benefit from this initiative.
Bolt’s humorous take on the announcement underscores the historic nature of this change, hinting at the substantial earnings he might have enjoyed during his own era of Olympic dominance. Over his illustrious career, Bolt secured six individual Olympic gold medals across the 100m and 200m sprints in Beijing 2008, London 2012, and Rio 2016, in addition to aiding Jamaica in winning three 4x100m relay golds. Although one relay gold was later retracted due to a teammate’s doping violation, Bolt’s legacy as one of the greatest athletes of all time remains unblemished.
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Bolt’s legacy in the sport is marked not only by his record-breaking speed but also by the joy and charisma he brought to the track, making him a beloved figure worldwide. As the athletics world embraces this new era of financial recognition for Olympic athletes, Bolt’s playful commentary highlights the connection between the sport’s past triumphs and its future endeavors.
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