Bolt takes it in his stride
Jamaican sprint sensation Usain Bolt (left) with Mr Jochen Zeitz of the Zeitz Foundation during a press conference at Norfolk Hotel, Nairobi, on Friday. Photo/WILLIAM OERI
What you need to know:
- Olympics sprints champion charms his way through Kenyan journalists
Jamaican athlete Uasin Bolt has illuminated stadiums and excited sports fans around the world with his lightning speed.
On Friday, Kenyans were lucky to see the fastest man in the world in person as he arrived in the country for an environmental conservation mission.
Many Kenyans who saw him at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, could not believe their eyes as strove to have a few photo-shots of the “Thunder Bolt”.
A few hours after arrival, he shook off jet lag to face the cameras at a press conference that would dwarf that of a head of state. More than 150 journalists, including camera crews from media houses across the world, turned out to document the rare occasion.
At the press briefing, the Olympic and World champion was with former 110m hurdles world champion Collin Jackson and the stars’ host, Zeitz Foundation chairman Jochen Zeitz.
In the audience, those keen enough could notice a number of plainclothes state VIP guards keeping a protective eye.
Bolt sat calmly in front of the blinding flashes as Zeitz, who is also the chairman and chief executive officer of sportwear giants Puma, took journalists through his organisation’s mission and what the Zeitz ambassadors are here for.
But it wasn’t just those in the room, as millions of other Kenyans followed the proceedings live on NTV and KTN.
NTV carried out the first exclusive interview in Africa with the world and Olympic champion and record holder, that was aired live from about 11.15am.
Bolt he had many questions to face. An examples is: Could he run the 10,000 metres like Kenyans?
“No, that’s not for me,” he said in typical, heavy Jamaican accent. “Short distances are my speciality. I couldn’t handle it.”
Another is he is going to Laikipia, near the game reserve, isn’t he scared of lions?
“It’s not the lions I am worried about because I can out-run them. I would be more worried about the cheaters,” he replied smiling.
K24 newscaster Jeff Koinange sought to find out if he could have time to walk in the inner cities (slums) and to meet more of his fans as he, too, grew up in the same kind of place.
“I wasn’t raised in the slum, I am from the countryside,” he corrected the former CNN Newscaster, almost sounding offended. After the open press conference, he had another 30-minute interview with the Nation newspapers and NTV, which was aired live by the station.
