Featured Image Credit: Getty
Topics: Donald Trump, Usain Bolt, Athletics, NFL
Ryan Smart
Donald Trump called for a rule change to the NFL after watching a video which featured Olympic legend Usain Bolt.
Bolt won eight gold medals in the Olympics, and holds the incredible record of winning a gold medal in every individual Olympic final - six - he ever competed in.
He holds world records at 100m and 200m and is the fastest sprinter of all time.
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Bolt has also attempted to forge a professional career in other sports, including the NFL - though he says he turned down multiple approaches.
The Jamaican caught the attention of the 47th US President for what he did after winning a gold medal at London 2012.
During a post-race interview, Bolt heard the American national anthem playing for another gold medal winner, and politely asked the interviewer whether they could pause until the anthem had finished playing.
Bolt stood in respect of the anthem before then carrying on with his interview.
Trump reposted the video to his Twitter feed in 2017 while calling for a major NFL rule change.
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His calls began after Colin Kaepernick took the knee prior to an NFL match in protest against systemic racism.
Trump tweeted: "The NFL has all sorts of rules and regulations. The only way out for them is to set a rule that you can't kneel during our National Anthem!"
After watching an NFL game involving Dallas Cowboys, Trump would post: "The booing at the NFL football game last night, when the entire Dallas team dropped to its knees, was loudest I have ever heard. Great anger.
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His rant continued: "Ratings for NFL football are way down except before game starts, when people tune in to see whether or not our country will be disrespected."
An NFL spokesperson declined to comment on Trump's tweets at the time, and no rule relating to the anthem was subsequently implemented.