MONACO, CMC – Usain Bolt has been reminded that he has become the embodiment of track & field and must carry himself in an appropriate manner.The advice for the triple Olympic gold medallist from Jamaica has come from President of the International Association of Athletic Federations, Lamine Diack.“You’re the key athlete in our sport and you have a responsibility,” Diack said he told Bolt.The 22-year-old Bolt was the undisputable star of the track & field competition at last year’s Olympics in Beijing, where he won gold medals and established World records in the 100 and 200, and was a member of the record-breaking 4 x 100 relay team.
Diack was speaking to Bolt against the backdrop of him being photographed in nightclubs, talking about marijuana use as a child, and crashing his car last month.“You’re not a movie star or singer – you’re a champion,” Diack said he also told Bolt.
“(So) if you are fit, you make the performance, or you are finished. Now you have a major responsibility. Now you are the major star.”Meantime, Diack dismissed the Manchester street race over 150 metres which Bolt won in another World record time.
He praised Bolt’s performance, but said he felt the street race was a novelty only.
“Our sport is in the stadium,” he said. “The future is not on the street. This is only for promotion.”
