Three years after retiring from track and field, American sprinting legend Justin Gatlin, a five-time Olympic medalist, has revealed plans to return to competitive racing at age 43. Gatlin, who stepped away from the sport in September 2021, expressed dissatisfaction with his final race—a third-place finish with a time of 10.03 seconds at the Kip Keino Classic in Nairobi at age 39. Now, Gatlin is gearing up for a comeback, announced on his podcast Ready Set Go. His goals include not only returning to elite competition but also taking on high-profile exhibition races against internet sensation iShowSpeed and NFL star Tyreek Hill. Additionally, Gatlin aims to break the Masters 100m world record for the 40+ age group, currently held by Kim Collins at 9.93 seconds. Gatlin, who already owns the 35+ world record with a 9.87-second sprint from the 2019 Prefontaine Classic, is confident in his ability to surpass Collins’ mark.
Recalling a message from Collins after his final pre-retirement race in 2021, Gatlin shared, “Kim texted me, thanking me for not breaking his record and wishing me a happy retirement.”
With determination, he added, “With some prep time, I’m ready to dominate. I’m Batman right now.”
Gatlin’s return adds an exciting chapter to track and field, joining other veteran athletes making comebacks. Whether he can reclaim his past dominance at 43 is yet to be seen, but his bold ambitions have already sparked intrigue.
