Runner’s hobby drink

Press, 27 July 1976, Page 22

Runner’s hobby drink

NZPA Montreal. The new Olympic sprint champion, Hasley Crawford, lists his main hobby as drinking. “But I don’t drink American alcohol.” he said after streaking to a decisive gold in the 100 metres final on Sunday. .“1 save myself until I get home to Trinidad — and {then I drink rum.’’ The 25-year-old West Indian stumbled nervously through a press conference after his victory, complaining about a sore throat, a sore knee and a sore ankle. It was ip marked contrast to his smooth acceleration through the Olympic 100 metres course to become Trinidad and Tobago's first-, ever Olympic gold medal winner. Crawford is an Olympic 'success in the classic mould.'

One of 11 children, he was: born into poverty in the; town of Marabello in Trinidad. “We were a very poor' family,” he said. “I did my first running at the age of six in the streets for sugar candy. Only the winner got the candy. “When I ran on a real track for the first time Jwas 16. I didn't have spikes — just an old singlet.” Times were hard when he ran in the Kingston Com-: monwealth Games in 1970. but immediately after he had taken the 100 m bronze medal he was picked up and signed by East Michigan College. That changed Crawford’s lifestyle. Last year he left with a bachelor of science degree and all the best American polish on his speed.

And there is more money :in his horoscope — a fortune in fat contracts' from American and Canadian pro-! •Sessional football teams. Crawford said he would almost certainly play profes-; isional football. He didn’t . know when, but he though it would be soon. I “1 have been talking to [the Los Angeles Rams for i about two years,” he said. “I ,think they will be on the’ i telephone tomorrow.” He spoke bitterly about. . government aid to sports-; 1 men in Trinidad — and in • fact he missed a trip to the I Christchurch Commonwealth i Games two years ago because of Trinidadian finani cia! problems. : “I hope they look at what t I did on that track.” he said. : “This has put that little is- ■ land on the map, and there, are hundreds of other run-, ■jners just waiting to get out into world competition.”