Usain Bolt 'might just show up' to race Tyreek Hill, is open to 70-meter compromise
Despite stepping away from the game, the greatest sprinter of all time likes still likes his chances in a foot race with Tyreek Hill.
Usain Bolt issued the latest update in the "will they or won't they" race chatter on Thursday in an appearance on the Dan Patrick Show. He told the host "I just might show up" to a race with the Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver.
"I’ve said it to him. I’ve texted him," Bolt told Patrick. "If you keep talking, I just might show up."
Will Bolt, Hill actually race?
The statement was the latest salvo in a back-and-forth in the media between the world-class athletes hinting at a foot race. Hill is one of the fastest players in the NFL. Bolt told Patrick he believes he's "definitely" still the fastest man in the world despite retiring from competitive sprinting in 2017. If that's the case, he would be the obvious favorite in a race with Hill at 40 or 100 meters.
Bolt told the Pat McAfee show on July 29 that he and Hill "got into it" after Hill told him he could outrun him. He bragged to McAfee that he once ran a 4.22-second 40-yard dash in his sweats and could handily beat Hill.
"Come on, Tyreek, you've got no chance," Bolt told McAfee.
Here's video evidence of that 40 time, with Bolt recording it at a 2019 Super Bowl event.
That time is faster than Hill's 4.29 that he ran at his pro day before the 2016 NFL draft. But Hill's not worried. He's confident he would beat the 8-time Olympic gold medalist in a 40-yard dash.
🐆 > ⚡️ ... 🤔 pic.twitter.com/d5HMiPYZLt
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) July 30, 2021
"Usain Bolt got out of the game for a reason, right?" Hill told reporters on July 30. "He's old. He's washed up. And he can't see me at 40 yards. A 100-yard dash? Yes. That's what he do. But 40-yard dash — Usain Bolt, if y'all recording this, Usain Bolt, you cannot see me."
How about 70 yards?
Patrick suggested a compromise distance of 70 meters as a midway point when speaking with Bolt on Thursday. Bolt, 34, liked the idea. And he sounded confident he could still take Hill at 40 meters. Though he tamped down the certainty he expressed to McAfee.
"I’m good with 70 meters," Bolt said. … "I still don’t think he can take me at 40 meters. Even if he gets there, it’s gonna be close."
Then he stated the obvious.
"If I could get in shape, I proved already if I really, like, warm up and get ready to go, I can run fast," Bolt continued.
Patrick then suggested some high stakes with Bolt putting one of his gold medals on the line against Hill's Super Bowl ring. Bolt didn't sound so sure about that idea, especially considering that Hill only has one ring.
“That would be big," Bolt said. … "I don’t think he’s gonna go for it. We should think about it. We should put some thought into that one."
So will this race actually happen? Not likely anytime soon. The Chiefs start their preseason on Saturday against the San Francisco 49ers. Hill's not going to have time for extracurriculars for months. But if it happens, fans will tune in. Especially if they run for stakes.
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