Usain Bolt, the world’s fastest man, will be slowed for a bit as he works to recover following a torn Achilles that he suffered during a charity soccer match over the weekend.
The current 100m and 200m world-record holder suffered the injury early in the first half as he attempted to avoid a tackle in the offensive third. You can see a video of the injury around the 3-minute mark of this video that shows highlights from the charity match.
Bolt was unable to walk off the field on his own power and needed to be carried off on a stretcher. Despite the obvious injury, Bolt appeared in good spirits when he posted to X (formerly Twitter) after the game.
Raptured Achilles but done know we a warrior 💪🏿 pic.twitter.com/vKYtHqOFTj
— Usain St. Leo Bolt (@usainbolt) June 9, 2024
Although he hasn’t officially announced his plans for treatment, it is assumed that the 37-year-old will undergo surgery to address the rupture. The former Olympic sprinter should be able to make a full recovery if he adheres to his physical therapy and rehab instructions, but that recovery won’t happen overnight. Most athletes need 6-9 months to return to normal activities, and it can take up to a year or more to return to high-intensity athletic endeavors. We expect that this won’t be the last time we see Bolt take part in a charity soccer match, and we expect him to make a full recovery from this Achilles injury.
Dr. Silverman Comments
Bolt was a magical runner during his heyday, but this injury just goes to show that even the greats aren’t immune from tendon degeneration and rupture. Silent degeneration comes for us all, and sometimes it results in a tendon rupture. He should be able to make a full recovery, and we wish him the best with his surgery and post-op recovery protocol.