Justin Gatlin, the celebrated American sprinter and five-time Olympic medalist, has announced a surprising return to competitive athletics at the age of 43. Three years after officially retiring from track and field, Gatlin says he’s ready for a second act this time with a new set of goals, fresh motivation, and a few unlikely rivals in his sights.
Gatlin’s retirement in 2021 came after a long and decorated career. However, the manner of his exit, marked by a third-place finish in his final race with a time of 10.03 seconds, left him feeling incomplete. Despite teasing a comeback shortly after retiring, particularly following his final appearance at the Kip Keino Classic in Nairobi at age 39, nothing materialized until now.
The veteran sprinter recently revealed on his podcast that he’s officially back in training. His targets go beyond just elite competition. Gatlin plans to participate in exhibition street races, aiming to take on internet sensation IShowSpeed and NFL speedster Tyreek Hill in high-profile sprint duels that blend entertainment with athleticism.
More seriously, Gatlin has also set his sights on a historic record: the Masters 100m World Record for athletes over 40 years old. That mark currently stands at 9.93 seconds, held by Kim Collins. Gatlin, who still holds the 35+ world record with a blazing 9.87 seconds at the 2019 Prefontaine Classic, believes he has what it takes to break Collins’ record and cement his status as one of the greatest sprinters in history across all age categories.
Reflecting on his past performance, Gatlin recalled a humorous exchange with Collins, who jokingly thanked him for not breaking the record when Gatlin came close in 2021. Now, with renewed focus and a confident tone, Gatlin has made it clear he’s aiming to rewrite history. “Give me a little prep time,” he said. “I’m Batman right now.”
Gatlin’s return comes amid a wave of veteran athletes attempting comebacks, proving that age is becoming less of a barrier in elite sports. Whether he can regain the explosive speed that once made him Olympic champion remains to be seen, but one thing is certain his return will inject excitement and curiosity into the world of track and field.
