Aries Merritt will be hoping to pick up where he left off in 2012 when he opens his 2013 Diamond League campaign in Shanghai tomorrow. But did you know that he credits some of last year’s incredible success to the massively popular online role-playing game, World of Warcraft?
Asafa Powell has ran more sub-10 second 100m races than anyone else, ever. He’s also a part-time agony uncle and full-time fashionista. SPIKES just had to find out more about his new leisure line.
When Jodie Williams isn’t hunting a PB, the record-breaking teenage sprinter is searching for the perfect photograph. Here, she talks to SPIKES about her creative side…
Jodie Williams: “I think a lot of sports people have that creative side, away from sport.”
Olympic 4x100m silver medallist and 100m fifth place finisher Ryan Bailey is a genuine (American) football fanatic who would love to still be playing the game.
“I knew I was fast as a kid but back in those days it was all about football. I liked to hit and I liked to tackle and that’s why I liked the sport so much. It helped me get all of my aggression out.
US 1500m champion Morgan Uceny talks about why she likes shooting hoops and following US College basketball.
Former junior shot put world champion and Olympic finalist Natalia Duco is so good she’s had her artwork displayed at an exhibition in her native Chile. And now the 23-year-old has kindly agreed to let SPIKES show off some of her best work…
World high jump champion Jesse Williams (not pictured) loves nothing more than a double leg take down.
“I didn’t make the high school basketball team but I was in class with a wrestling coach who kept on saying I could be good at wrestling because I have the mentality and drive to be good at it.
“I love working hard and it is a sport where you can work really hard and get good at it. Honestly, of all the sports I’ve done, including athletics, it was my favourite sport to participate in.
Great Britain’s European Indoor 800m champion Jenny Meadows on Rugby League.
My dad was a massive fan and it was he who got me into Rugby League. My first ever memories of the sport was sat on my dad’s knee watching Wigan Warriors play at their old Central Park ground, but to be honest I was more interested in the sweets than the action on the pitch.
Over time, though, I slowly fell in love with the game and I was very lucky that my team, Wigan, were the dominant force in the English if not the world game. I loved watching Shaun Edwards play, a great reader of the game and playmaker and Andy Gregory – a powerful ‘chunky nugget’ who was a little general on the pitch.
With nicknames ilike liquid lightning and morning thunder, there’s no wonder Olympic 1500m silver medallist Leo Manzano can’t get enough coffee. He’s even been tempted to work as a barista.
I grew up drinking coffee and as I’ve got older, I’ve bought more coffee and I’ve got more into it as a social activity. I love coffee, so if you ever want to get hold of me invite me out for a coffee.
It is kind of embarrassing but I’m addicted to coffee. I guess it is one of the better addictions. I usually limit myself to two or three a day and I never have a coffee after 4-5pm.
I’m not particular about the type of coffee I drink, but I like it strong and with a real pop to it. The perfect coffee would have a little milk, whole milk, with a little bit of honey, but not too sweet.
In the morning I stick with a regular coffee but later in the day I tend to have an ice coffee, which is a little more potent and helps me get through the day. By about 2-3pm if I’m feeling a little low of energy I like that boost. I sometimes like a frappuccino.
I’m not going to lie I have been tempted to work as a barista. I used to work at an Italian restaurant and making coffee was one of the few things I never tried, which I regret.
Olympic 800m finalist Alysia Montano tells SPIKES about her love of the beautiful game and how it helps her on the track
I played soccer from the age of five through high school and I had some offers to play soccer at college. It was a tough choice but I decided to concentrate on track. It made sense academically and from a sporting view. Having said that, I loved team sports.
I played in midfield both centrally and on the left and occasionally as a striker. I wasn’t predominantly right-footed but I had a good left foot and that’s why I played out on the left.
Olympic triple jump champion Olga Rypakova is one of the most graceful athletes on the planet, and finds solace in growing flowers. We just had to pick up our spade and start digging…
How and why did you first get into flower growing?
I was 8 years old when I planted my first flower. It was a rose in the garden with my grandmother.
How much of your time do you devote to this activity?
Whenever I have any free time.
Are there any triple jumping qualities you possess which are transferable to flower growing?
Definitely patience.
Which is your favourite flower to grow?
My favorite flower is the rose.
Do you keep all your flowers you receive for winning competitions?
I keep all the flowers from big competitions! The best flowers for me came at the 2002 World Junior championships in Jamaica.
If you could grow a flower for SPIKES, what would it be and why?
The Orchid! Because it is so beautiful, like a victory!
Which flower best symbolises you and why?
The Orchid, because is takes a long time to rise but then it blooms for a long time.
Lawrence Clarke, who finished fourth in the Olympic 110m hurdles final, talks rock and mountain climbing.
“My parents were always very keen on the mountains, but I thought skiing on a piste was very dull, so I went off-piste skiing which was fun because you have to climb up a mountain and ski down it. My mother hooked me up with a guide when I went to the Alps to climb. Obviously I couldn’t go to the Alps every week, so I went to the Lake District, Brecon Beacons or Snowdonia; it became an addiction.
“I got more involved at school, where we had a mountaineering society. Bear Grylls was as former student and he spoke at our school. I was also met a climber called Tim Emmett a few times and that motivated me and got me very interested. By the time I was 13 I climbed Mont Blanc, which was exhilarating.
