After a lengthy pause, he eventually admitted it wasn't a good question to ask. He was 18 he confessed, a little embarrassed, before explaining to any youngster listening it was way too late to commit to athletics.
Bolt has still gone on to become the world's greatest sprinter because he was so naturally gifted. He admits he was once a lazy trainer but six Olympic golds and the fact he owns two world records are proof he knows how to work hard.
Even though he will be 29 at the 2016 Rio Olympics, Bolt is confident he can win again and further enhance his legacy. There had been suggestions he might branch out and also contest the long jump and 400m at the next Olympics but dismissed this. Even Bolt, for all his supreme confidence, knows this would be too difficult.
"I don't want to try any different events in Rio," he said while on a brief visit to Auckland yesterday. "I just want to defend my titles and show the world there's a possibility I can do it again for the three-peat."
It's not something that has been done before and even winning consecutive Olympic titles is difficult. There was some doubt in the leadup to London about whether Bolt could repel the challenge of fellow Jamaican Yohan Blake but he easily dispatched the young pretender on his way to setting a new Olympic record of 9.63 seconds (Blake was second in 9.75).
It immediately provoked fresh debate around whether he could ever go under 9.5 seconds.
Bolt's world record, set in 2009, presently sits at 9.58 secs but there are many who believe he would have gone close to 9.5 secs if he had actually tried in all of his races. He is that good, that dominant, that he often eases back in the final stages.
"There's definitely a possibility [of going under 9.5]," Bolt says. "I think this season, when it starts, won't be so stressful. I can relax and focus a little bit more. I think it will be much easier when there's not so much pressure on your shoulders. I will continue working and pushing myself and hope for the best."
Bolt trains about six hours a day, six days a week when in season. Once he realised natural talent could make him only so quick - it needed to be drummed into him - he set about making it happen.
He went unbeaten in the 100m for two years and a defeat now is still a surprise, even to Bolt. When he gets to the starting block he gets tunnel vision, as he calls it, and doesn't think anyone can beat him.
"It feels good [being me]," he says with a grin. "As long as I am in great shape and feel great within myself, I know what I am capable of. It's a wonderful feeling to get on the line and know that nobody beside you can beat you."
It's part of the reason he plays up to the crowd. Bolt is an entertainer, something that comes naturally, and larks around before a race as a way to remain relaxed. He worked out some time ago sprinters can't go fast if they're tense but he also worked out he can afford to do it because he is so good.
"People always say I'm cocky," he says. "I don't know why. I guess it's because of what I do on the track. That's just for the fans. The original people loved it so I just do it for the fans because they are the ones who build us and make us who we are.
"The person you see everyday, that's me. I like to have fun, I like to joke around, I'm laidback. I'm pretty much lazy most of the time but I work hard when it's necessary."
That's because he finally worked out what he wanted to do.
"I wanted to be great and show the world what I could do," he admits. "Now I'm a legend, I'm happy."
