Jamaican Usain Bolt urges Kenyan youths to take to sprints

Submitted by Leila Gichinga ... on 31 October 2009 - 10:26pm
Usain Bolt dances with local students at Segera Ranch on Sunday - Photo: Mohammed Amin/Nation Media Kenya
Usain Bolt (second from right) dancing with Masai Morans in Kenya - Photo: Mohammed Amin/Nation Media Kenya

Jamaican Usain Bolt, the fastest human on the planet, has challenged Athletics Kenya to convince the younger athletes to break from the mould and try out the shorter distances for the country to unearth talents in the sprints events.

Olympic and World record-holder Bolt, who is also a global ambassador for sport for the Zeitz Foundation, is in Kenya for the official launch of the foundation. which was established by the CEO of the sportswear manufacturing giant - PUMA, Jochen Zeitz, in 2008 and advocates for the sustainable use of environment.

The foundation, through its Long Run initiative, aimed to create sustainable, ecologically and socially responsible ecosystems that protect the integrity of the environment and the culture and people living in it.

When asked at a press conference why he thinks Kenya is not producing top sprinters, he said: "Just like in Jamaica there are a lot of short sprinters and there are no long distances [runners].

"Depending on the countries, I think for Jamaicans, when you grow up, you grow up seeing sprinters, sprinters and everybody wants to be a sprinter.

"Like in Kenya now you grow up seeing a lot of long distance runners and nobody wants to try to sprint, I think that's the problem, nobody want to do something different."

"But if you can convince the younger guys to try to do something different, it might just work. I don't think you will find a lot of guys who want to sprint, but if you can convince the younger athletes to try out the shorter distances, I definitely think you will find the talents," he added.

'Loilgwany Bolt'

Meanwhile, Usain Bolt has been made a Maasai Moran at an initiation ceremony at Segere Ranch in Laikipia where the Zeitz Foundation is establishing a conservation programme.

A dozen Morans dressed Bolt in their traditional shuka and presented him with a stick before christening him Loilgwany, the warrior of warriors.

Bolt is accompanied on the African tour by PUMA's Jochen Zeitz and British former 110m hurdles champion, Colin Jackson.

Watch the Video of Bolt talking at the Launch of Zeitz Foundation