Full Breakdown
Usain Bolt Proposes to Longtime Partner Kasi Bennett at 40th Birthday Celebration
8/24/2026, 5:43:53 AM
The Proposal Event
On August 21, the Jamaican sprint legend celebrated his 40th birthday at One Belmont in Kingston, Jamaica. During the party, Bolt knelt before family and friends, holding a microphone, and asked Bennett to marry him. He presented a five-carat pear-shaped diamond engagement ring, which Bennett later displayed on Instagram. Photographs show Bolt in a beige checkered suit and Bennett in a gold body-con dress with silver sequin detailing. The couple embraced emotionally after the proposal, and guests applauded.
Background & Context
Usain Bolt and model-entrepreneur Kasi Bennett began dating in 2013. Their relationship remained largely private until the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, when they first appeared together publicly. Later that year they confirmed their partnership on Instagram with photos from a Bora Bora vacation. Bolt retired from competitive track after the 2017 World Championships, concluding a career that includes eight Olympic gold medals and world-record times of 9.58 seconds in the 100 m and 19.19 seconds in the 200 m—records that still stand. The engagement marks the next milestone after more than a decade together and three children.
Data & Statistics
- Age: Usain Bolt turned 40 on August 21; Kasi Bennett’s age is not disclosed in sources.
- Children: Daughter Olympia Lightning Bolt, 6; twin sons Thunder Bolt and Saint Leo Bolt, 5.
- Engagement ring: Five-carat pear-shaped diamond.
- Olympic achievements: Eight gold medals; men’s 100 m Olympic record (9.63 seconds, 2012) and world record (9.58 seconds, 2009) remain unbroken.
Official Statements & Responses
In a 2016 interview with People, Bolt explained his deliberate pace toward marriage, citing his parents’ decade-long courtship as a model.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I want to have what my parents have," Bolt said at the time .” — Usain Bolt
- “Would you make me the happiest man in the world and please marry me,” — Usain Bolt
