From the callroom through the tunnel to the starting blocks, Usain “Lightning” Bold is the perfect picture of a young man having fun. He talks to the camera as he awaits the starter’s orders. He’s playful, funny and full of pranks. And when it’s time to run, he has the watchful, antsy crowd at his beck and call. The din in the stadium suddenly drops to a hush as the king of sprints puts his index finger to his lips signally to them to be quiet for the start.
But why don’t we ever see Bolt sweating bullets out of nervousness? The answer is simple, straightforward and practical.
“We train like 10 months out of the whole year. My coach explained to me: ‘if you train 10 months out of the year, why should you worry?’” Bolt told fans who attended “A Conversation with Your Champion Usain “Lightning Bolt”, at Brooklyn College in New York yesterday. It was a tribute to the world record holder, organized b y the Jamaica Tourist Board in partnership with the Consulate General of Jamaica. “I go out there prepared…I’m ready to run,” he further said to cheers and laughter.
In an onstage interview with Bolt and Edmund Bartlett, Jamaica’s minister of tourism, moderated by Jamaica-born Christopher J. Farley, cultural editor of the Wall Street Journal in New York, Bolt answered questions ranging from his training routine to what goes on his head during a race to his determination and confidence to his responsibility of being a global icon.
Bartlett recalled that his reaction to Bolt’s performance at the Beijing Olympics was: “this is amazing.” But at the Berlin World Championships he was even more in awe. His response to it: “this is more than amazing.”
The world’s fastest man stated, “I want to be a legend in Track and Field,” which was greeted by many nods, cheers and applause, reflecting the vibe in the auditorium as unmistakably one of pride.
Bolt’s visit to the Big Apple is far from over. On Tuesday, September 29, there’ll be a New York City media launch of the “Usain Bolt 9.58 Super Party” set for December 5 at Richmond Estate, St. Ann, Jamaia to raise money for charity.
A “Usain Bolt Record Breaking Celebration Party” will also take place Saturday, October 10 in Queens, New York.