World Championships 2017: Will Usain Bolt, The Greatest Sprinter Of All-Time, Come Out Of Retirement?

Famed U.S. sprinter Justin Gatlin thinks Usain Bolt may reconsider his decision to retire. The 30-year-old Jamaican stated in February 2015 that he would retire after the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, but then decided that he would compete in the 2017 World Championships in London, which begins on Aug. 4.

"Why not? He has that rock star mentality where he can travel the world, have fun, party in different places and then say: 'I want to take this seriously one more time,'" Gatlin told reporters Friday at the U.S. team's training camp in Birmingham, England.

"He has the opportunity to come back. Once he leaves he can have a year of rest and say: 'I love track so much I can't leave it too soon,'" said Gatlin.

Bolt and Gatlin have had a well-documented rivalry over the years, though Gatlin has only beaten Bolt at the 2005 World Championships. At the Rio Games, Bolt edged Gatlin in the 100 meters with a time of 9.81 seconds, while Gatlin earned the silver at 9.89 seconds.

It's typical for retired sprinters to remain retired, though Bolt is not a typical sprinter as he continues to dominate the sport. Earlier in July, he won the 100 meters at the Monaco Diamond League.

Bolt's career achievements have separated him from all other sprinters, past and present. He holds the world record for the fastest time in the 100 meters (9.58 seconds), the 200 meters (19.19 seconds) and has won eight Olympic gold medals and 11 gold medals in the World Championships.

Bolt, who turned pro in 2004, has never tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs.