Central Coast Mariners midfielder Matthew Lewis admits he’s still coming to terms with meeting the fastest man on the planet, Usain Bolt, and rubbing shoulders with the quickest players from football’s other codes.
Central Coast Mariners midfielder Matthew Lewis admits he-s still coming to terms with meeting the fastest man on the planet, Usain Bolt, and rubbing shoulders with the quickest players from football-s other codes.
Lewis took part in last night-s “Gatorade Bolt” as part of the Athletic Allstars meet at Sydney Olympic Park Athletic Centre, where he got up close and personal with Bolt, the man who scorched down the straight at the famous Birdcage Stadium in just 9.69 seconds at the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008, before smashing that a year later with a new world record time of 9.58 seconds at the World Championships in Berlin.
“He-s pretty chilled out,” said Lewis.
“He has a real presence about him but just very casual and he-s a nice guy.
“He sort of told me how to use my arms properly in sprinting and to just get my knees high,” Lewis said.
But despite learning the tips of the trade from the master, Lewis admits those words of wisdom were the last thing on his mind as the starter-s gun blasted to send the 20-year-old on his way in a field featuring Rugby League and Rugby Union-s elite.
“Nah it all went out the window and I just ran,” Lewis laughed.
“It was a fantastic experience to meet all those guys. They are all double the size of me so it was pretty intimidating but I really enjoyed it,” Lewis said.
After clocking a time of 11.99 seconds, under nine-tenths of a second behind the eventual winner, Waratahs and Wallabies flyer Lachlan Turner, Lewis finished ahead of one of Rugby League-s biggest names Greg Inglis.
“I was pretty happy with the way I ran. I was pretty nervous and I didn-t get the best of starts but it was just great to be a part of it. It was a real honour being the only player to represent Football in the race, I-m not the fastest player in the comp (Hyundai A-League), but I got my chance and I just took it.
“I did a bit (of sprinting) in Little A-s and after school before I signed with the Mariners but not at a high level, so I just went out there to have a bit of fun,” Lewis said.
