Jamaican sprint star Usain Bolt is to receive a brand new BMW M3 from his main sponsor, Puma, the company's CEO, Jochen Zeitz, announced at a news conference in Beijing, China yesterday.
Zeitz made the announcement two days after Bolt celebrated his 22nd birthday and a day after he ran the third leg of the 4x100m to help Jamaica win the gold medal and smash the world record by posting 37.10secs.
The relay win was Bolt's third gold of the 29th Olympiad, having earlier taken the 100m in a world record 9.69secs and the 200m, also in a world record 19.30secs.
"Usain, I'm not sure we can top the medals you won this week, but we didn't want you to miss out on a birthday celebration," said Zeitz. "So, we would like to present you with a special gift that we heard you've had your eye on in Jamaica. It's a fully-loaded BMW M3, and we'll be sending you the real thing when you get home."
Earlier in the news conference Zeitz, when asked why Puma chose to sponsor Bolt and Jamaica he said: "Well that is a very easy question. It used to be a difficult question, but an easy one now. Puma is a brand that wants to mix things up and push boundaries, and we have a brand personality that combines sport performance on one side, style, fashion, and living a positive lifestyle on the other. So we are always looking for partners who do just that. Six years ago, we felt Jamaica as a country and the athletes would represent Puma well and it paid off in a big way.
"But we do not just focus on winning. We really focus on how we perform and how we do it. That is why we have a partnership with Jamaica. Jamaica does it in style. It's a wonderful lifestyle we would all want, but don't have time to go to Jamaica.
"Bringing that feeling to the world made all the difference in the world. And if you look at how Jamaica has performed that's what has brought the country into the hearts of the world. And that was our mission. Of course, you want to win, but even if you don't win, you give your personal best and you also want to enjoy it. And as was said about the disappointment with the women's relay. it happens. Tragedy and victory are very close, and sometimes it's just a split second.
"And that's why we love Jamaica. We love sports, and that's why we picked Team Jamaica."
Asked about the accusations of showboating levelled at him after he won the 100m, Bolt said: "I talked to the other athletes. Most of them were okay with it. That's just how it goes in track and field. I'm just trying to enjoy myself, that's it. The fans are watching, and they want to know your personality, and I try to enjoy myself at all times. I won't change, and a lot of people like seeing me perform. I won't change because that's my personality."
Source: The Observer
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