Running champion Usain Bolt is dashing to retirement as he prepares to run his final races at the World Athletics Championships in London, which begin Friday.
Bolt has set numerous records over the last decade, including winning three 100m Olympic titles, world records in 100m and 200m, and winning 23 gold medals, CNN reported.
Bolt has dealt with increasing injuries in recent years including chronic back pain, which have slowed him down slightly, though not enough to slip out of first place yet, CNN reported.
Bolt also charmed audiences with his joking manner before, during and after races. He brought personality and enthusiasm to the sport which has been contagious, CNN said.
Bolt will run the 100m race on Saturday and the 4x100m relay on Aug. 12 to finish out his athletic career. Michael Johnson, a previous 200m record-holder, called Bolt irreplaceable and said he doesn’t think anyone else will be able to do what Bolt did, in the same way he did it, CNN reported.
"I think the sport has made a mistake by relying on [Bolt’s speed and personality] for the last eight years because he was never going to last forever," Johnson said to CNN.
Bolt already bid farewell to his own in Jamaica in a five-hour farewell at a stadium in Kingston, where 35,000 people watched him run his last race on home soil, CNN reported.
Bolt has also said repeatedly that the London championships would be his last individual race, Sports Illustrated reported.
Bolt reportedly lives a fairly normal life in Kingston, and only deals with fame and recognition in the U.S. and other parts of the world, CNN said. He has numerous endorsement deals with various companies like Puma as well.