Footage emerges of Usain Bolt making his return to the race track as Justin Gatlin immediately reacts

Footage of Usain Bolt making his return to an athletics track has emerged online - and his great rival Justin Gatlin has already reacted.

Bolt hung up the spikes for good at the end of the 2017 World Athletics Championships, having won eight Olympic gold medals.

The Jamaican holds world records in 100m and 200m, making him the fastest man of all time.

Despite retiring at the relatively tender age of 30, Bolt suffered from various injury problems during his final year as a professional athlete and therefore was never tempted to make a comeback.

He did appear in an exhibition 800-metre race back in 2021, but fans have otherwise not seen much of Bolt running since his athletics retirement.

That is why footage of Bolt at the Oslo Diamond League meeting earlier this week quickly went viral.

In the clip, the now 38-year-old can be seen doing a 100-metre practice start.

Although the footage is slowed down, Bolt clearly still possesses a significant burst of speed out of the blocks.

And US sprinter Gatlin - who Bolt once described as his toughest opponent in athletics - was quick to have his say on the new clip.

After the Jamaican posted the clip to his Instagram page, Gatlin replied: "I told you that you was going to get the itch."

Bolt has previously ruled out any semblance of a comeback, though, despite Gatlin himself remaining a professional sprinter until his 40th birthday.

Following his exhibition 800m run, he told reporters: "I did a lot of cardio [to get ready for the run]. I think I needed to do a little bit more.

"No, no, this is a one-time thing."

Bolt has, however, experimented with other projects since his retirement, attempting to become a professional footballer by training and playing friendly matches for Australian A-League side Central Coast Mariners.

In 2012, his management team stated that he would consider playing in cricket's Big Bash League in Australia after the 2016 Olympics, having held talks with legendary leg-spinner Shane Warne and the Melbourne Stars franchise.

Bolt, who is a lifelong cricket fan and once named his sporting idol as legendary wicket-keeper Adam Gilchrist, ultimately decided to unsuccessfully pursue football as his post-athletics career.