Usain Bolt to Realmadrid.com
Usain Bolt shared his happiness for being at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in an interview with the Club’s official media.
Welcome to Real Madrid. It is an honour to have you here.
It is an honour for me to be here.
How’s this experience been for you?
It’s been wonderful. I’ve enjoyed everything, especially the stadium. The crowd really accepted me. It was wonderful.
Last night, 80,000 fans cheered for you. It was the first time you said you were nervous…
I was really nervous. My heart was pounding. It was a great experience. I really enjoyed it.
How did it feel to be down on the pitch?
It was a different experience for me. I remember I saw Cristiano Ronaldo’s presentation and thought it was amazing. It was the same for me yesterday. It was overwhelming, but I enjoyed it very much. It was beautiful.
What did you think of the team during the game?
The team has the best players. I think the match was good overall. The chemistry wasn’t quite there yet, but I believe that over time the players will get to know each other better. They won and I think they will be even better in time.
The pitch is 106 metres long. You could run it in no time…
The pitch looks smaller once you are on it… I think I would definitely be a good footballer (laughs).
Could you be able to outrun your good friend Cristiano Ronaldo with the ball?
Definitely. Cristiano is fast, but I’m faster. I’m the fastest in the world (laughs). I think I could outrun him with the ball because I know how to dribble it (laughs).
You met Cristiano a couple of years ago and you apparently gave him advice on how to run faster. Is that true?
Yes. Normally, when he catches up speed he leans his body forward. I told him what to do to run longer and go faster.
Can you tell our fans what they should do to run faster?
Running fast is all about technique. It is very important. You also need talent (laughs). Lifting your knees keeps you upright and allows you to run faster for a longer period of time.
You travel a lot because of your profession. How can you keep up with what’s going on at Real Madrid?
My agent and my friends let me know when there is a match, so I’m always on top of things.
You said Ruud van Nistelrooy is one of your favourite players…
Manchester United was my favourite team when I started to watch football because he was there. He is a very good player. He is my favourite all-time footballer. I became a Real Madrid fan because I follow Ruud van Nistelrooy wherever he goes.
Who is your favourite player on this squad?
Ruud van Nistelrooy. He knows the game very well. He always knows where the ball is and when to score.
You run 100 metres in 9.58 seconds and 200 metres in 19.19 seconds. Are you saving yourself on the track? Can you go faster?
I think I can go faster, but I leave that up to my coach. We analyse each race. We try to go through the season without risking getting injured. We see what we can do to go further and achieve great things in sport.
You won three Olympic Gold Medals and three in the Berlin World Championships. What’s better, to be an Olympic Champion or to be a World Champion?
To be an Olympic Champion. You have to wait for years to be in the track again. It is the greatest honour an athlete can aspire to have.
Is it true that you are thinking about giving long jumping a try? Some people say you could jump more than nine metres…
I’ve definitely been thinking about it. I’d like to do it before I retire. I believe it could be wonderful for me. I think I’m talented for it because I tried it when I was younger.
The record is 8.95 metres and it was set 18 years ago. That’s a long time…
It is (laughs). I like breaking records, so it would be a challenge for me.
You were born in Trelawny, which apparently is some sort of paradise. What are your fondest memories of growing up there? Was it there where you started to run fast?
I remember playing football and cricket in the streets. I remember rubbing my knees on the ground a lot because we played on the roads. We had a lot of fun. I used to play cricket. It was my cricket coach who discovered me and told me I should try track and field. I did and I was very good, so I decided to continue.
Apparently you are also a good basketball player…
I really enjoy playing basketball. It’s the sport I most practice because it keeps me fit when I’m not training. I try to keep the weight off (laughs).
In 2002, you set the 100 metre record in 10.2 seconds. That’s amazing for a 15-year old… American universities went nuts about you, but you decided to stay in Jamaica…
I was very close to my mom. I’m an only child and I didn’t want to leave here. I’m a mama’s boy (laughs).
Jamaican athletes are getting a lot better in general and all of them are staying in Jamaica because of you.
That’s the main thing right now. In the States you work hard and do a lot of races, which can burn you out. I think training in Jamaica is better for us. We are seeing a lot of talent coming out of Jamaica.
People say that it’s hard to understand your personality because you are a showman, but your mother says you are simply a happy man. What makes you so happy?
I enjoy the sport. If you don’t enjoy what you do I believe you shouldn’t do it. We should find what really brings us joy. I like to show people that I enjoy what I do.
Thank you very much.
Thank you so much for inviting me. I’ve really enjoyed it. Hopefully you will invite me again. I will always keep this experience in my heart. It was wonderful. The Real Madrid fans really accepted me as one of their own. Thank you very much.
Just another Madridista
Junta speak