Usain Bolt joins esports group WYLDE as co-owner

Eight-time Olympic champion Usain Bolt has joined Dublin-based esports group WYLDE as co-owner.

Electronic sports, or e-sports, is a form of competition using video games.

Bolt, who holds the 100m and 200m world records, will be “involved in a range of activities focused on elevating WYLDE’s growing brand”, the company said in a statement .

WYLDE was founded two years ago by Steve Daly, a former investment banker at JP Morgan, and David Cronin, former President and CEO of the American Ireland Funds and a founding shareholder of Irish technology company QUMAS.

An 11-time world champion, Bolt retired after the 2017 World Championships in London where he suffered a hamstring injury in the final race of his career.

WYLDE currently has teams competing in Rainbow Six Siege, Valorant, Rocket League and FIFA.

The organisation is already represented by winning teams in UK and Ireland, Germany and France and has recruited professional players, academy athletes and content creators across 16 countries, reflecting the global nature of esports.

Esports is predicted to attract one billion worldwide viewers by 2025 and is the fastest growing spectator sport in the world.

For the first time, esports athletes will be competing at both the Asian Games and the Commonwealth Esports Championship in 2022, highlighting its rapidly growing global popularity.

Usain Bolt said that WYLDE is on a journey to becoming one of the biggest brands in the fastest growing sport in the world.

“In esports, like in track & field, it’s critical to have that competitive, winning mentality. I look forward to working with the WYLDE leadership team to help our players to reach their potential, while also taking care of their physical and mental wellbeing,” he added.

WYLDE co-founder David Cronin said thatUsain coming on board takes the company to the next level.

“With his vast competitive experience and Olympic-winning mentality, his guidance will be invaluable as we continue to build professional structures to support the development of our players,” he added.