Cheeky boy wonder from Jamaica

By Dann Okoth

Triple Olympic Gold Medallist Usain Bolt has challenged upcoming Kenyan athletes to embrace sprints to better their chances in the world arena.

Bolt, the fastest man on the planet after clocking a blistering 9.58 seconds to win the 100 metres race at the World Championship in Germany this year, said there was potential for the country to produce good sprinters.

"Historically Kenya has produced sprinters who competed at the international stage and there is no doubt that the potential exists in the country," Bolt said.

World 100m and 200m record holder Usain Bolt strikes his favourite pose for fans at JKIA on arrival from London on Friday. The Jamaican athlete is on a four-day visit to launch Zeitz Foundation’s conservation programmes. He is accompanied on the trip by, among others, former British 110m hurdles star Colin Jackson and German billionaire and CEO of Puma, Jochen Zeitz. Photo: Igantius Kemboi

Kenya briefly graced the sprint scene in the early 1970s with the country sending athletes to the Olympics and other international meets.

However, the discipline has since experienced a steady decline in recent past, even nose-diving into oblivion with sprint activities being relegated to local institutional championships.

But Bolt noted that despite the common perception that sprinters could only come from certain geographical regions countries like Kenya, home to world-beaters in long distance running, still had the opportunity to excel in the short races.

"It has nothing to do with genetics or regions. It all boils down to hard work and commitment," Bolt said during a press conference at the Norfolk Hotel in Nairobi.

Social responsibility

Bolt and Colin Jackson, former world champion hurdler and BBC sports commentator, were the chief guests at the official launch of Zeitz Foundation’s programmes in Kenya.

The foundation seeks to create sustainable, ecologically and socially responsible Global Ecosphere retreats that protect the integrity of local ecosystems and the cultures and people living within them.

He noted that while in Jamaica youngsters emulated their older sprint counterparts, in Kenya budding athletes learnt the ropes from the senior long distance runners.

"While there are more sprinters in Jamaica, long distance runners dominate the local scene so it follows that there would be more budding sprinters in Jamaica than Kenya and vice versa," he noted.

However, he cautioned that the country must adopt a professional approach in developing sprint athletes. "Just like any other sport you will need to invest in infrastructure and other technical issues like hiring of qualified coaches—above all athletes must be prepared to work hard," Bolt warned.

At the same Bolt revealed that he was preparing to win more races in the near future in line with his ambition to become a track and field legend.

"I have said I want to become a legend so I’m not just looking at one competition or a particular season. I want to win everything that comes my way and do it in style," he said.

Visit again

Although he did not rule out competing at the international athletics championships slated for Kenya next year, Bolt said his agent will decide.

"Unfortunately I do not decide, which competition I compete in or not. That decision lies with other people," he said.

But there were indications that this is not Bolt’s last visit to Kenya after it emerged he had adopted a cheetah whom, he says he will come and visit from time to time.

"It does not mean I will take him to Jamaica with me but I will come to visit from time to time," he said.