Usain Bolt theory emerges from sprint legend who slams reason why world record stands

Ex-sprinter Maurice Greene has had a say on the current crop of athletes and is of the opinion that they should be doing more in order to break Usain Bolt's track records

Olympic gold medallist Maurice Greene has claimed that today's athletes are too engrossed in social media to break Usain Bolt's long-standing records.

The US legend, who set a 9.79-second 100m world record back in 1999, criticised the current generation of athletes for not utilising advanced technology to achieve faster times. Despite his records dating back to 2009, Bolt remains unbeaten as the fastest man on earth.

The Jamaican star, who delivered several remarkable performances across three consecutive Olympic Games, hung up his spikes in 2017. During his illustrious career, he bagged eight Olympic gold medals and continues to hold world records in the 100m, 200m and the 4x100m relay.

His 100m record of 9.58s, set in August 2009, still stands, as does his 200m time of 19.19s from the same year. Not only does Bolt top the all-time leaderboard for these events, but he also holds the three quickest 100m times ever recorded, despite having retired seven years ago.

In a candid chat on Jamaican former sprinter Asafa Powell's YouTube show, Greene expressed his astonishment at how today's athletes have failed to use major leaps in sports science to set new track records.

"I've always said as time progresses, man progresses, technology progresses, and people get faster," the former sprinter said. "With the technology and the shoes that they've got now, and the tracks that they're running on, there's no way in the world you can tell me they shouldn't have run faster.

"If that was [me] man, I probably would have run 9.50 seconds or something on this track. Like, come on. They're so caught up with clicking this, getting this click and not putting the focus into the progression of the race and trying to perfect their race.

"That's why I don't think we've seen a progression since Bolt. Bolt put it out there, but now it's like nobody's getting close to that. But why aren't you getting close to that? Because the shoes are better than his, the tracks are faster. So things should be coming on, but [instead] they're worried about: 'Oh, give me this click', and doing this and that."

Noah Lyles claimed gold at the Paris Games in the summer with a personal best of 9.79 seconds. This time ties him with Greene's 1999 achievement as the joint 12th fastest ever and Lyles has expressed ambition to surpass Bolt.

After his performance in Paris, the US star spoke on The Dan Patrick Show, confidently stating his ambition to break records. He insisted: "I'm trying to get it done as soon as possible."

Yet Bolt seems to disagree that his records are in danger. Talking on talkSPORT Drive earlier in the year, when quizzed about his record being toppled in Paris, his response was clear-cut as he said: "Not now. I've not seen the talent yet to get there."

Despite this, there is a young prodigy might just have what it takes to challenge both Greene and Bolt's scepticism. At the tender age of 16, Australian sprinter Gout Gout caused a stir at the U20 World Championships in Peru by clocking a sensational 20.60 seconds in the 200m, narrowly beating Bolt's own youth record of 20.61 set in 2002.

While the athletics world buzzes about the Aussie teen's potential, Bolt has offered some sage advice for up-and-comers like Gout and those eyeing his records, including Lyles. On the High Performance podcast, Bolt emphasised that ultimate success comes to the hardest workers.

Now 38, he reflected on his journey, acknowledging that despite outpacing older competitors in his early years, similar to Gout's current trajectory, he had to learn the importance of dedication to reach the pinnacle of the sport.

"When I started working with [my] coach [Glen] Mills, he sat me down and explained and said: 'Listen, everybody who is a professional has talent, so it's who works the hardest on their talent that will be the best'," he explained.

"And that's when I understood that you can't get to the top with just talent alone. You need work, you need sacrifice, you have to be dedicated. It took me time but I learnt along the way and I got better over time."