SPRINTING great Usain Bolt credited Jamaica’s female sprinting flag bearers for their barrier-breaking exploits and believes a successful staging of the World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon, is critical for the growth of the sport in the all-important US market.

The retired icon was also full of praise for fast-rising sprinter Oblique Seville, who continued his impressive development with a fourth-place finish in the men’s 100m final on Saturday, the highlight so far of a season that has seen him drop his personal best time to 9.86 to become the sixth-fastest Jamaican of all time.

However, the roses were reserved for the Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Shericka Jackson, Elaine Thompson-Herah triad, who repeated their exploits at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics by sweeping the medals in the women’s 100m final to continue a spell of dominance that has never been witnessed at this level.

“Jamaica’s female sprinting is at its highest and I wish to salute Shelly, Sherika and Elaine for leading the charge,” Bolt told the Jamaica Observer.

Fraser-Pryce, who at 35 years old is the fastest woman in the world this year with no sign of slowing down, confirmed her form, leading from start to finish and stopping the clock at 10.67 seconds — the fastest time ever recorded at the championship, to lead her countrywomen to the line. Jackson posted a personal best of 10.73 for second place, while Thompson-Herah was third with 10.81.

“Shelly’s longevity and commitment are beyond special and I am super proud of her, especially knowing we basically started running together from junior days. It is just a great feeling seeing these phenomenal women burning up the track,” Bolt said.

“Congrats to Elaine on signing with Puma and I am wishing her continued success — two-time double Olympic champion is no normal feat.”

Meanwhile, with the first staging of the World Athletics Championships on US soil so far receiving mixed reviews and limited attention from traditional local media — despite American medal sweeps in the marquee men’s 100m and shot put finals — Bolt, one of the most recognisable faces in the world, even outside of the sport, underlined the importance of athletics breaking into the US market.

The North American sports market is projected to value US$83.1 billion in 2023, the vast majority of which is not being circulated within the sport of athletics.

“[It is] very important in growing the sport. I didn’t even realise that this is the first [outdoor] World Championship in the US. Hopefully, this stage can further elevate the profile of the sport, bringing more fans and viewership,” Bolt said.

Interestingly, NFL-bound Devon Allen, who was disqualified from the 110m hurdles final for a false start, has received more attention in traditional US media than the top performers at the championships so far.

While admitting that he misses the engagement with the fans and being involved in the competition, Bolt says he is at peace with his life away from the sport.

“I live for competition so you are always going to miss competing. Track and field has been my world, basically, for all my life so yes, I will always miss that feeling of walking out to the cheering crowd and being on the start line ready to put on a show.

“But I have enough great thrills at these championships to last me a lifetime, so even though sometimes I might miss the competition, I am at great peace knowing I achieved everything I wanted to in athletics,” Bolt shared.

Bolt weighed in on the men’s 100m final which was won by Fred Kerley in 9.86 seconds, with compatriots Marvin Bracy 9.88 and Trayvon Bromell, also 9.88, taking the other medals.

Seville, who is trained by Bolt’s former coach Glen Mills, clocked 9.97 seconds for fourth, his seventh-consecutive sub-10 seconds clocking this season.

“It was a good competition. After the semis it felt like the gold medal was up for grabs and the athlete who executed the best race would win, so that was definitely good excitement for the 100m,” said Bolt.

“Congrats to Fred on winning the gold medal and congrats to all the medallists. Fred and Bromell are both represented by my agent Ricky Simms, so seeing them deliver was good.”

“I’m very proud of the progress Seville is making. He’s still young. Once he continues to put in the hard work and listen to the guru Glen Mills, the world will be his for the taking,” Bol said of the young Jamaican.

“I spoke mostly with Coach Mills to check in on how things were going [with Seville]. I sent him a text just letting him know how impressed and proud I am of his development so far and just to keep putting in the work,” Bolt added when asked if he was able to speak with Seville before the championships.

Bolt, the world record holder in the 100m and 200m, retired in 2017 after winning eight Olympic and 11 World Championships gold medals, ending a career that transcended the sport itself.