Justin Gatlin remains convinced Usain Bolt will return to athletics after injury dramatically ruined his farewell in the 4x100 metres relay final in London on Saturday.
Bolt looked set to head into retirement with a record-equalling 15th IAAF World Championships medal but pulled up with an apparent hamstring injury and failed to finish the final leg of the race.
Great Britain snatched the gold medal from the United States as the 30-year-old lay prone on the track, Christian Coleman beaten to the line by Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake.
Gatlin, who beat Coleman and Bolt to 100m gold last weekend, has previously expressed his opinion that his long-time rival will return to the sport in the future and reiterated those thoughts following an unbecoming farewell for the eight-time Olympic champion.
“He’s coming back in a year or two, he’ll be ready. He has a passion for the sport, the fans love him, it’s something you just can’t walk away from that easy,” said Gatlin.