Sponsors persuade Bolt to delay retirement

Usain Bolt says he will put off his retirement until 2017 with the 2017 world championships in London likely to be his last competition.

Usain Bolt has set a new best time of 9.98 seconds for the rarely run 100 metres indoors at Warsaw. (AAP)

Sprint superstar Usain Bolt revealed Friday that he will put back his planned retirement until 2017 at the request of his sponsors.

The six-time Olympic gold medallist and 100m and 200m world record holder had intended to retire from the track after the 2016 Rio Olympics, but he told a news conference on Friday that he will compete for a further extra year.

"I think I'm going to do another year. My sponsors asked me to do one more year, so I will compete until 2017," said the 27-year-old Jamaican.

If he sticks to his plan then Bolt's last competition is likely to be the 2017 world championships in London.