Usain Bolt Trains With Norwegian Soccer Club After Retiring From Olympics

Reuters
By Reuters
June 2, 2018Sports News
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Multiple Olympic sprint champion Usain Bolt trained with Norwegian top-flight side Stromsgodset on Wednesday, May 30, as he pursues his dream of becoming a professional footballer.

The 31-year-old Jamaican, who retired from athletics after winning eight Olympic gold medals, is a soccer fanatic and trained with the club in Drammen, some 40-kilometers southwest of Oslo.

“I want to try to get better, to work as hard as I can, play as much as I can. Maybe a club will see something and decide to give me a chance,” said Bolt, who retired from running after last year’s world championships in London.

He also hopes to play some part in a friendly against the club’s Under-19 side.

Stromsgodset sporting director Jostein Flo said Bolt was given shirt number 9.58—his world record time for the 100 meters—to wear during his time at the club and added that he may get a chance to play in a game to show what he can do.

The Stromsgodset players were surprised to find the world’s fastest man in their dressing room on Wednesday, Flo said.

A staff member was caught on video speaking to Bolt, who was seated.

“I just made the introduction and I’ve got a few players who felt they’re fast, quick, so I guess we’ll find out in the next couple of days. But you’re very welcome and we’re happy to have you here,” the staff member said.

Bolt, a Manchester United fan, also trained with Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund in March.

Dortmund’s coach, Peter Stoeger, said that Bolt had to put in work if he wanted to become a pro footballer.

“He is at an age where I say he is no longer so incredibly capable of development,” Stoeger said, according to The Associated Press. “You can see that he understands the game. He’s talented. What he’s missing is the teamwork.”

Bolt said he wants to play “in a top league.”

“It doesn’t matter if it’s La Liga, English league, Bundesliga, I’m OK with that,” Bolt said in March, reported NBC. “I just want to prove to the world anything is possible.”

Zachary Stieber contributed to this report.

 

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