Usain Bolt is keeping his options open for the 2016 Rio Olympics in beyond, as he considers competing in the long jump and 400m dash in the games, and a possible career in soccer once his Olympic career ends. Bolt became the first man to defend the 100m and 200m medals during the London games earlier this year. While the Jamaican sprinter maintains that he will try to defend those titles again in 2016, he has mentioned entering the 400 or long jump events as an additional challenge.
“We will sit down and evaluate if we want to do it,” Bolt told the Associated Press. “Because if I do it, I may jeopardize my opportunity to come to Rio, so I may not do long jump. It concerns me. We will look over and see if it is possible.”
Bolt was on a promotional tour of Rio during the week, where he visited Maracana Stadium, which has is undergoing renovations for the upcoming Confederations Cup, and the 2014 World Cup. He posted a photo of the stadium on Twitter saying “construction in full Usain Bolt speed ahead of World Cup football.”
The 100m and 200m world record holder is a fan of England’s Manchester United soccer club, and has expressed a desire to play soccer professionally towards the end of his athletic career.
“I want to try football; at the end of my career it would be something I would love to try because I think I’d be good at it,” he told Reuters earlier this month. “I’ve played charity matches in Jamaica and I’ve done well. I think it’s something I’d like to try definitely.”
