The ‘Lightning’ Bolt you didn’t know

Glimpses of the persona that is Usain Bolt were flashed out in doses at the Segera Ranch, Laikipia where the world’s fastest man has spent his last two days in Kenya.

From the man who has a playful nature, does his jigs as naturally as a salsa dancer, is full of humility and has skills of a World Cup winning football player, Bolt showed it all at Segera, where the Zeitz Foundation has established a site for conservation.

Bolt together with former 110m hurdle world record holder Colin Jackson are world ambassadors for the Zeitz Foundation which launched its Kenya programme on Friday.

“I am the big bull and Colin ( Jackson ) is the small bull,” the playful Bolt teased his companion over their Maasai moran (warrior) initiation where Bolt was christened Loingwany. “They did not give me a Maasai bride, but had they done so, I would not have carried her, the time was too short,” he said with a laugh.

“I wrote my Maasai name somewhere,” he said and to prove that he was “one of them now” jumped up and down, the elevation impressive, as he simulated the well known dancing style of the tribe.

Bolt also joined school children who presented Maasai dances to guests who attended a luncheon at the ranch, including area MPs Mwangi Kiunjuri of Laikipia East and Ndiritu Murithi of Laikipia West. “These Maasais sure can dance,” a visibly impressed Bolt, also known for his love of dancing, said.

Coveted snap

The 100m and 200m world record holder had no problem posing for photos on request from all and sundry including the cooks, guards, ranch managers and even local dignitaries. It was almost a mad scramble as everybody tried to get their photograph taken with one of the best known athletes in the world.

The tall sprinter showed that he also had football skills such as chesting, volleying, executing back flips and juggling the ball Ronaldino style. However, even for a man who on the track, strikes so much fear in his opponents, Bolt had to endure this same feeling while on a game drive early on Sunday morning.

“We were even confronted by a bull elephant which came in front of our car. It was really scary. I thought he wanted to charge at us but all he wanted was for us to back off,” Bolt said.

“The game drive was wonderful and I really enjoyed it. We will go for another one in the morning (Monday) because I did not see any lions or leopards. I definitely hope to come back soon,” he said.

For all the media attention though, the school children in the area seemed to know little of Bolt. “I do not know him. We don't watch television nor read papers,” said Jarso Mohammed, a pupil at the neighbouring Waso Ngiro Primary, said.

The sprint king is expected back in Nairobi on Monday morning and will adopt a cheetah at the Kenya Wildlife Services headquarters in the afternoon before flying out in the evening.