In sport, there are usually several contenders for the throne.
Football has Pele, Christiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi vying for the pole position.
And while tennis star Roger Federer leads with titles won, his great rival Rafael Nadal often comes out on top when they go head to head.
But Usain Bolt is in a league of his own. Everyone is in agreement – he is the greatest sprinter of all time.
Here are a few of the factors driving the market for Bolt’s memorabilia.
He retired in 2017
Bolt had nothing left to prove when he left professional sprinting in 2017. But I must admit; I’ll miss the sight of him breezing past the competition.
Runners retire young.
Bolt is only 32.
As his professional career spans only 14 years, there’s a limited supply of memorabilia available.
There have been promising indications of future value, with some big prices paid at charity auctions.
A pair of running spikes made £25,000 ($31,841) in 2012.
While the prices are usually above market value at these events, they give an idea of future potential.
Good examples of Bolt’s autograph are selling for $200-400 and upwards.
These are excellent results for an athlete of his age.
As time goes on, the value of pieces signed during his career have a strong chance of growing in value.
Worldwide appeal
Bolt’s fame isn’t down to his being the fastest man who ever lived.
Can you name the previous holder of that title?
Unless you follow athletics, chances are you can’t.
What makes Bolt unique is his extraordinary charisma.
His cheery demeanour and swaggering self-confidence made him a huge hit when he exploded into the global consciousness at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Even before he crossed the finish line in a record 9.69 seconds, he’d established himself as a sporting hero.
And not just for enthusiasts, but also those with only a passing interest.
He’s the newest member of the pantheon of sporting greats. It's this broad appeal that's driving sales.
My top tips
Items connected with Bolt’s track performance are the most sought after.
It's these pieces that have the best chance of being worth more in years to come.
That looks to be the record so far (once we remove the inflated charity result from the equation).
At the lower end of the market, autographed jerseys can be had for $500 up.
Signed photographs are more affordable – but still rare enough to have growth potential.
Paul Fraser.
PS. Do you have a piece of Usain Bolt memorabilia you’re looking to sell? I may be able to help. Get in touch today at info@paulfrasercollectibles.com.
