“I am going to be the master of the masters,” when Justin Gatlin, the 43-year-old Olympic legend, dropped a bombshell on his platform, Ready Set Go, about his return, the track world buzzed with electricity. Known for his blazing speed and unrelenting drive, Gatlin’s announcement wasn’t just a comeback, it was a declaration of war on the Masters circuit. “I’m making an announcement right now,” he said, voice steady but brimming with intent. “I’m going to start training. So we’re going to be ready for the 40-meter. We’re going to be ready for these street races against Speed. We’re going to be ready against Tyreek if he says something. At an age when most sprinters hang up their spikes, Gatlin’s eyeing the Masters 100-meter world record (9.87 seconds, set by Charles Allie in 2020). Can he really shatter it?
Well, the track community didn’t take long to rally behind him, and no voice rang louder than Donovan Bailey’s, the 1996 Olympic 100-meter champion. On his own YouTube channel Donovan Bailey, Bailey, now 57, didn’t hold back his excitement. “Justin, my boy, I’m telling you, you have no major injuries. You’re still very young. You’re still in great shape. Go get it, man. Go get it,” he urged.
Bailey sees this as Gatlin’s moment to seize a new era of exposure. “I think there might be so much exposure now, and Justin never had it—we certainly never had it, media-wise,” he said. With social media and celebrity showdowns like Jake Paul’s $20–$40 million fight against Mike Tyson, Bailey believes the stage is set for Gatlin to dominate. “You’ve got Ashton, you’ve got ISpeed, you’ve got Tyreek, all these people throwing cash around,” he added. If not for his own two blown Achilles, Bailey admitted, “I’d throw my hand in the ring for sure.” Will Gatlin’s comeback spark a new wave of track spectacle?
Gatlin’s resume, five Olympic medals, including 100-meter gold in 2004, gives him credibility. At 43, he’s injury-free and fueled by a hunger to redefine what’s possible. The Masters record is within reach, but the real question looms: Can he outrun time itself?
Gatlin’s quest to eclipse Kim Collins’ Master’s Record
Justin Gatlin’s comeback has the track world buzzing, and his sights are set on a legendary mark: Kim Collins’ Masters 100-meter world record of 9.93 seconds, set in 2016. On Ready Set Go, when sprint coach Rodney Green suggested Gatlin could outrun Collins’ record, the 43-year-old Olympic champion didn’t hesitate. “Give me a little prep time. I’m Batman right now,” Gatlin quipped, his confidence as electric as ever. He’s no stranger to Collins’ legacy.
EUGENE, OREGON – JUNE 20: Justin Gatlin looks on after the Men’s 100 Meter Final on day 3 of the 2020 U.S. Olympic Track & Field Team Trials at Hayward Field on June 20, 2021 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
Reflecting on his final race at 39 or 40, Gatlin shared, “When I went out there and ran my time, my last race, Kim texted me, was like, thank you so much for not breaking my record. Happy retirement.” That texted, half-joking, half-relieved, underscores the respect between the two. Can Gatlin now turn that respect into a record-breaking challenge?
Collins’ 9.93, set at age 40, stands as a towering benchmark in the Masters category. Gatlin, now 43 and injury-free, believes his experience, five Olympic medals, including 2004’s 100-meter gold, gives him the edge. Green’s encouragement fuels the fire, but time is the true rival. With prep underway for street races and the Masters circuit, will Gatlin’s “Batman” swagger carry him past Collins’ mark?
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