The winner of 10 spectacular Olympic medals that include nine incredible gold spoke about how his athletic career came to be and advanced, crediting his mother as the one person who pushed him to get involved in the sport. The 52-year-old former track and field star competed in four Olympic Games and won numerous medals after his breakthrough moment came when he was 16. “I was a very good sprinter and long jumper on the East Coast but at that particular meet in Memphis, I ran my personal best. I also jumped 25.9 for the first time. When I made that step, everything changed and I realized what I wanted to do”, he said.
Lewis stressed on the fact that running has the potential to transform one’s body and the fact that is it something anyone can do at his or her own pace. “It’s something that’s great not just for people but for families because everyone can do it together” said Lewis.
In his seventeen-year career, the dominant sprinter and long jumper often topped the world rankings in the 100-metre, 200-metre and long jump events beginning 1981 until the early 90s but still feels that the long jump was the engine of his international career and something that took him to the next level.
The TCS 10K Bangalore has 50 per cent more female entries this time, proof of the fact that more and more individuals are taking up running in the country. “Running is important for the community and for the world. If you have a country this large, things that you do here affect the entire world. I think the movement is wonderful and I am happy to be here and think it is going to be a great race”, he said as he left.
The TCS World 10K Bangalore 2014, scheduled to be run on Sunday, May 18.
