Usain Bolt

The Jamaican completed the triple-triple at Rio 2016, taking his tally of Olympic gold medals to nine.

Along with his Games success, he is an 11-time world champion and world-record holder in the 100 metres, 200m and 4x100m.

Asked if he was now the greatest, Bolt replied: "Yes, I definitely think so. I've really put my all into it.

"I really worked hard to accomplish the greatness that I have done so I am really proud of myself and accomplishments that I have done so I am really happy about it."

Usain Bolt has admitted that his love for sprinting faded after a tough 2015, and his early preparation for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro were hampered by his lack of interest.

Speaking ahead of the premiere of his film, I Am Bolt, the 30-year-old, nine-time Olympic gold medalist said the pressure is now off as he prepares for his final year in the sport.

"The workload I had leading up to the Olympics and even at the 2015 world championships meant there was so much pressure and stress that it just wasn't fun anymore," Bolt is reported as saying in the Guardian.

The Jamaican sprint superstar has won gold in the 100 metres, 200m and 4x100m in each of the past three Olympics, firmly cementing his status as one of the greatest athletes in history.

Now 30 years old, Bolt is planning to step away from the sport following the World Championships in London in 2017 and his new film, 'I Am Bolt', is due to be released later this month - a behind-the-scenes documentary looking at his preparations for Rio 2016.

The greatest track and field athlete of all time is likely to earn upwards of a million dollars as the star attraction in the inaugural edition of the Nitro Summer Series in Melbourne in the week of Feburary 5-11.

The series will involve up to eight teams representing countries and regions.

With the meets taking place so early in the year, the 30-year-old Bolt is likely to only contest relays.

But his signing is still a massive coup for Athletics Australia (AA) and the Victorian government.

The triple sprint champion from the Rio Games arrived in Tahiti at the weekend where surprised travellers and airport staff went up to him to have their picture taken with him.

The Jamaican sprinter only stayed briefly before catching a connecting flight to Bora Bora.

Bolt left a message for his fans on social media before disconnecting.

Photo: Usain Bolt Snap chat

Following two weeks of thrilling sports action, we take a look at some of the more memorable quotes from Rio 2016.

Words to inspire

While Rio 2016 endured more than its fair share of problems, the Games produced some iconic moments of sporting greatness that will live long in the memory.

From Neymar's penalty that lifted a nation, to Usain Bolt's 'treble treble' and Michael Phelps' 23rd gold, here we bring you 10 standout highlights.

Had Bolt come along as an athlete four decades earlier, though, we wouldn’t have seen him in Rio at all.

This has been the Olympics of Usain Bolt and Michael Phelps in what likely will be their final significant statements on the grandest stage their sports allow. They only are here, however, because professional athletes are allowed to compete.

Four days removed from becoming the first man to win three consecutive Olympic 100-meter gold medals, Bolt repeated the trick Thursday by comfortably winning the 200 final in a time of 19.78 seconds, ahead of Canada's Andre De Grasse and France's Christophe Lemaitre.

The majestic Usain Bolt once again broke new ground at Rio 2016 by storming to a third successive Olympic 200 metre title and the eighth gold medal of his illustrious career.

Bolt made history last weekend when he became the first man to win the 100m on three occasions, a time of 9.81 seconds enough to get the better of nearest rivals Justin Gatlin and Andre De Grasse.