Sponsors persuade Bolt to run until 2017

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil (AFP) – Sprint superstar Usain Bolt revealed Friday that he will put back his planned retirement until 2017 at the request of his sponsors.

The six-time Olympic gold medallist and 100m and 200m world record holder had intended to retire from the track after the 2016 Rio Olympics, but he told a news conference Friday that he will compete for a further extra year.

“I think I’m going to do another year. My sponsors asked me to do one more year, so I will compete until 2017,” said the 27-year-old Jamaican.

If he sticks to his plan then Bolt’s last competition is likely to be the 2017 world championships in London.