World athletics chief Sebastian Coe blasted the "obsession" with Usain Bolt as track and field entered its new era without the Jamaican showman at the Commonwealth Games on Sunday.
Coe said there was no shortage of athletics talent for the Games, the first major competition since Bolts retirement last year left the sport with a void to fill.
"This obsession with...," said Coe, before stopping himself and adding: "There are plenty of athletes around.
"Are we going to replace Usain Bolt? Probably not, because you dont replace Muhammad Ali.
"But Marvin Hagler and Manny Pacquiao and (Julio Cesar) Chavez and the great boxers came through."
"But dont construe the fact that we dont have Usain as suddenly weve lost a generation of talent. Its there."
Disclaimer: No Business Standard Journalist was involved in creation of this content
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors
Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share
Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor
Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements
Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app