Usain Bolt clarifies his previous fitness comments as a lighthearted joke

Usain Bolt says his claim about getting out of breath walking up stairs was a joke and not a reflection of his physical state. The former sprinter clarified the remarks while serving as an ambassador for the World Athletics Ultimate Championship in Budapest. Bolt explained that his previous comments, made in Tokyo a year ago, were intended as humor and had been taken out of context. The 2026 comments coincide with his recent engagement to Kasi Bennett, which he noted last month. Bolt reports that he is currently maintaining his fitness and that athletes competing in the Ultimate Championship have expressed enthusiasm for the event. The sprinter maintained his status as a prominent figure in the sport through his ongoing involvement with international track and field competition.

• 5:24 PMThe Guardian Sport — ‘Just making a joke’: Usain Bolt retracts claim stairs got him out of breath