Page 36 - Summer2016Gazette

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Usain Bolt was definitely the cheer them on. I have been to
star of the Games, winning watch seven Olympics, starting
both the 100m and 200m with Seoul in 1988, and Rio has
for the third consecutive definitely been the highlight
Olympics. The stadium from a Blackheath and Bromley
was always full when Bolt perspective!
was competing and the Other Athletics highlights
atmosphere was fantastic, he included the 5000/10000 double
always seems to be enjoying With Olympian Adam Gemili. from Mo Farah and the amazing
the experience and having 400m World Record from
a great time. I’m so lucky to I was pleased to be able to Wayde Van Niekerk, in 43.03, I
have been in the stadiums for chat with Adam after his heat wasn’t expecting that! The 800m
his three Olympic 100m Gold and then, a few days later, to win by Kenya’s David Rudisha
medal winning races. meet his parents and Elliya, was another great performance,
his sister, for a couple of hours
Supporting our stars in the executive lounge at the by an all-time great athlete.
Adam Gemili ran brilliantly airport before our flight home! Many wonderful memories
to finish 4th in the 200m in Jack Buckner invited me in I went to watch both Marathon
the same time as Lemaitre as a guest, and it was quite an races which were held on a loop
from France, the bronze experience with Usain Bolt, course along the roads close to
medallist, losing out by three the BBC commentary team the beaches. The quiet roads
one thousands of a second and many other well known provided a welcome change from
after the officials spent a athletes also on our flight. the usual hustle and bustle of Rio
long time studying the photo Dina Asher-Smith also had a life. Callum Hawkins has become
finish. How unlucky was fantastic Olympics, coming a top class athlete, finishing in 9th
that! It was great to see Adam 5th in the 200m and winning place, whilst in the women’s race
doing so well although he a bronze medal in the 4x400m I was supporting Loughborough’s
was understandably very relay, with the team setting a Sonia Samuels who also ran very
disappointed to just miss new British record. These are well.
a medal. Adam is still very incredible achievements for
young and it is exciting to such a young athlete and it was
think about what he could go great that John Blackie, her
on to achieve in future Games. coach since she was 10 years
old, was in Rio to witness
these brilliant performances.
I was so pleased to be in Rio
to see Dina and Adam doing
so well during my reign as Mr Douglas Wakihuri (above), the
President! They both come over 1987 World marathon Champion
so well in all their interviews and also the winner of the
and press conferences. We are World Cup marathon which I
very fortunate to have them as ran in Athens in 1995, was in the
members of Blackheath and stadium for some days and I had
Bromley and I was able to get a good chat with him which I
tickets for all of their races to really enjoyed.