“When I was younger, it was rough for me because I lived to put my country on the map,” Bolt said.
“I was doing well but the transition to professional, it kind of broke up because I started getting injured … then online and people would see you and say, ‘Oh, you’re not going to make it anymore. You’re done. That’s it.’
“I just stay away from social media — I stay away from all the articles. You’ll hear stuff here and there, but I try to stay away as much as possible.”
Having announced his retirement from elite sprinting in 2017, Bolt admitted he misses the thrill of competition but still closely follows athletics.
“For me, it was a surprise,” Bolt said.
“Because I’d seen all the US athletes and everybody else, I was like, ‘maybe the US athletes will win’, but he showed up and he proved himself to be one of the best, and that’s what it’s all about.
“When you get onto the big stage, you have to prove yourself that the hard work that you put in and the focus that you have on the game. So my hat’s off to him.”