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Gatlin has explained the mentality he needed to posess in order to challenge Usain Bolt during their sprinting days.
American sprint icon Justin Gatlin has delved into the mindset he needed to possess any time he was racing Usain Bolt back during their sprinting days.
For Gatlin, overcoming Bolt wasn’t just about physical preparation—it required a perfect mental game. After years of being second-best to Bolt, Gatlin finally tasted victory at the 2017 World Athletics Championships in the 100 meters, but it had been a long and grueling journey to get there.
It took seven years before Gatlin managed to outshine Bolt, and that victory came amidst a chorus of boos from fans during the 2017 championships, where he clinched gold in the 100 meters.
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21:00 - 08.09.2024
Why Justin Gatlin believes Fred Kerley is the sprinter to beat next season
Justin Gatlin on why he believes Fred Kerley is the sprinter to really watch out for at the 2025 World Athletics championships in Tokyo next year.
Reflecting on those moments, Gatlin shared the intensity of his thought process on his Ready Set Go podcast. “I was thinking like, ‘I gotta keep this mother****** behind me somehow,’” he joked, capturing the fierce rivalry between himself and Bolt.
For Gatlin, the mental focus required to race against Bolt was extraordinary.
“You get to a point where when you are racing at a high level, the margin for error is so small now, bro. Like, you cannot float a step, you cannot have a short drive phase, you cannot have your hips sitting while you are trying to run, you gotta be damn right perfect dawg,” he explained.
Gatlin went on to describe the level of perfection needed to compete against the world’s best.
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21:10 - 07.09.2024
American sprint icon explains why he is excited about Courtney Lindsey for 2025 following blistering run in Berlin
Justin Gatlin has revealed one quality about Courtney Lindsey that could push him to a stunning 2025 season.
“You have to be damn perfect against seven or eight other guys. You have to be perfect after you just ran three races back to back for the last two weeks.
“You have to be near perfect when you are not eating the normal foods you would otherwise eat and are sleep deprived. There is always a high level of stress—it’s a fact of who can get it the best on that day, and Bolt was that dude.”
According to Gatlin, Bolt’s understanding of his own race strategy made him almost unbeatable. “He knew his race pattern. He knew no one could beat him. He knew, if I dropped them off at 35 meters, who gonna touch me? And he was right for the most part.”
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16:29 - 07.09.2024
'Let them be themselves' - American sprint legend discusses pressures on Gout Gout being compared with Usain Bolt
A prominent American sprinter has expressed concerns over the premature comparisons of a young athlete to legendary Usain Bolt.
Now retired, the 42-year-old Gatlin shares his wisdom with up-and-coming athletes, stressing the importance of making the most of opportunities when they arise.
“As an elite runner now, you have to know when to seize your moment. History will show that I ran the most 9.7s in the seasons, but I had no award I wanted, and the crazy thing is, everyone knew it was mine to lose.”
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