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Even off track ... Asafa loves the fast lane
published: Sunday | March 2, 2008
Misha Lobban, Contributor
My best friend is the one who brings out the best in me."(Henry Ford)
It is fitting that world 100-metre record holder, Asafa Powell, is captured leaning against a spanking Mercedes-Benz he advertises on behalf of Euro Star Motors, because next to track and field he has a strong passion for motor cars.
Through the eyes of his best friend, Jason Pryce, we learn that the 2006 Male World Athlete of the Year has had a passion for cars, especially race cars, ever since he was teenager when he built his own go-kart, which he raced around his community.
Asafa also has a talent for playing both the drum and guitar, and he still plays the guitar in his spare time.
Regarded as the fastest man in the world, Asafa first came to the attention of the athletics world at the 2003 World Championship. On June 14, 2005, he broke the 100m world record in Athens, setting a time of 9.77, beating American Tim Montgomery's 2002 record of 9.78 (which was later annulled due to doping charges against Montgomery).
In 2006, Asafa won both the 100m and 4x100m relay at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, Australia. He equalled his world record time on June 11, 2006, at Gateshead International Stadium with a time of 9.77, and on August 18, 2006, he ran the world record time of 9.77 for the third time in Zurich, Switzerland.
On September 9, 2007, at the IAAF Grand Prix in Rieti, Italy, Asafa broke his own 100m world record when he ran a new world record time of 9.74.
Childhood friend and personal chef, Jason Pryce, tells us more about this popular Jamaican sprinter and world record holder.
1. How did you meet Asafa Powell, and how long have you been friends?
Asafa and I are like brothers. We have been friends since childhood. We grew up together in Linstead, St Catherine. We lived several blocks away from each other and we became friends when we started going to Miss Francis Basic School. We were about three years old.
We later attended the same primary school, Ewarton Primary, and remained in the same class until grade 6, when I left to attend Ewarton High School.
We also went to the same church - Redemption National Church of God - and we both sang on the choir.
We had the same interest growing up as kids, such as racing karts. We would build go-karts for fun and raced around the community; he was the driver and I was the passenger.
Although we went to different high schools it never affected our friendship, and when he left Ewarton to go to the University of Technology the bond between us as friends remained strong.
2. Tell us what you admire most about him, and why you think you have remained friends all these years.
The thing I admire most about him is his humility and the fact that he always looks out for others. He is just genuine and down to earth.
He knows he can trust me and that he can depend on me, and so, besides being his best friend, I am also his personal chef.
I also know that I can depend on him. Things got very tough for me when my father was diagnosed with cancer and later died in 2001. Throughout his illness, Asafa was always there to give me his support. I remember that just before my father died, it was Asafa who took him from Linstead to the hospital in Kingston, in his own car.
3. Tell us something interesting about Asafa.
Asafa is a musician. When he was younger, his eldest brother, Nigel, taught him to play the drum and the guitar, and Asafa would sometimes play for the church. He still loves to play both of them. Last year, his brother gave him a guitar for his birthday and whenever he has the time he still plays.
He also loves cars, especially race cars. We spend our spare time working on our cars and doing stuff like souping up the engine.
4. What are some of the things you talk about when you get together?
Investment opportunities ... how we can make money to better our lives.
5. Share with us one of the happiest moments you have experienced with him.
There are many ... these are mainly the times that we hang out together and have fun.
6. Tell us the first thing that comes to your mind when you think of him, and why.
One who is blessed with the ability to rise above challenges. He has experienced difficult times in his life, like in 2002 when his brother, Michael, was shot dead, and the next year his other brother, Vaun, died but he has risen above this and other challenges in his life.
7. What are his favourite food, favourite music and favourite sport?
He loves food in general but he enjoys jerk pork, stew chicken and fried dumplings.
He loves reggae and hip hop.
He enjoys watching football and he sometimes plays the game.
8. Tell us the colour that you associate with him:
Yellow - signifying someone you'll never forget
Orange - signifying someone you consider your true friend
Red - signifying someone you really love
Green - signifying someone you'll remember for the rest of your life
Orange ... because he is a real friend to me.
9. Define for us what you consider to be a true friend.
A true friend is someone you can trust and who will always be there for you (during the ups and downs of life); a person who is honest at all times.
Please send your feedback and comments to lobban_misha@yahoo.com
published: Sunday | March 2, 2008
Misha Lobban, Contributor
My best friend is the one who brings out the best in me."(Henry Ford)
It is fitting that world 100-metre record holder, Asafa Powell, is captured leaning against a spanking Mercedes-Benz he advertises on behalf of Euro Star Motors, because next to track and field he has a strong passion for motor cars.
Through the eyes of his best friend, Jason Pryce, we learn that the 2006 Male World Athlete of the Year has had a passion for cars, especially race cars, ever since he was teenager when he built his own go-kart, which he raced around his community.
Asafa also has a talent for playing both the drum and guitar, and he still plays the guitar in his spare time.
Regarded as the fastest man in the world, Asafa first came to the attention of the athletics world at the 2003 World Championship. On June 14, 2005, he broke the 100m world record in Athens, setting a time of 9.77, beating American Tim Montgomery's 2002 record of 9.78 (which was later annulled due to doping charges against Montgomery).
In 2006, Asafa won both the 100m and 4x100m relay at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, Australia. He equalled his world record time on June 11, 2006, at Gateshead International Stadium with a time of 9.77, and on August 18, 2006, he ran the world record time of 9.77 for the third time in Zurich, Switzerland.
On September 9, 2007, at the IAAF Grand Prix in Rieti, Italy, Asafa broke his own 100m world record when he ran a new world record time of 9.74.
Childhood friend and personal chef, Jason Pryce, tells us more about this popular Jamaican sprinter and world record holder.
1. How did you meet Asafa Powell, and how long have you been friends?
Asafa and I are like brothers. We have been friends since childhood. We grew up together in Linstead, St Catherine. We lived several blocks away from each other and we became friends when we started going to Miss Francis Basic School. We were about three years old.
We later attended the same primary school, Ewarton Primary, and remained in the same class until grade 6, when I left to attend Ewarton High School.
We also went to the same church - Redemption National Church of God - and we both sang on the choir.
We had the same interest growing up as kids, such as racing karts. We would build go-karts for fun and raced around the community; he was the driver and I was the passenger.
Although we went to different high schools it never affected our friendship, and when he left Ewarton to go to the University of Technology the bond between us as friends remained strong.
2. Tell us what you admire most about him, and why you think you have remained friends all these years.
The thing I admire most about him is his humility and the fact that he always looks out for others. He is just genuine and down to earth.
He knows he can trust me and that he can depend on me, and so, besides being his best friend, I am also his personal chef.
I also know that I can depend on him. Things got very tough for me when my father was diagnosed with cancer and later died in 2001. Throughout his illness, Asafa was always there to give me his support. I remember that just before my father died, it was Asafa who took him from Linstead to the hospital in Kingston, in his own car.
3. Tell us something interesting about Asafa.
Asafa is a musician. When he was younger, his eldest brother, Nigel, taught him to play the drum and the guitar, and Asafa would sometimes play for the church. He still loves to play both of them. Last year, his brother gave him a guitar for his birthday and whenever he has the time he still plays.
He also loves cars, especially race cars. We spend our spare time working on our cars and doing stuff like souping up the engine.
4. What are some of the things you talk about when you get together?
Investment opportunities ... how we can make money to better our lives.
5. Share with us one of the happiest moments you have experienced with him.
There are many ... these are mainly the times that we hang out together and have fun.
6. Tell us the first thing that comes to your mind when you think of him, and why.
One who is blessed with the ability to rise above challenges. He has experienced difficult times in his life, like in 2002 when his brother, Michael, was shot dead, and the next year his other brother, Vaun, died but he has risen above this and other challenges in his life.
7. What are his favourite food, favourite music and favourite sport?
He loves food in general but he enjoys jerk pork, stew chicken and fried dumplings.
He loves reggae and hip hop.
He enjoys watching football and he sometimes plays the game.
8. Tell us the colour that you associate with him:
Yellow - signifying someone you'll never forget
Orange - signifying someone you consider your true friend
Red - signifying someone you really love
Green - signifying someone you'll remember for the rest of your life
Orange ... because he is a real friend to me.
9. Define for us what you consider to be a true friend.
A true friend is someone you can trust and who will always be there for you (during the ups and downs of life); a person who is honest at all times.
Please send your feedback and comments to lobban_misha@yahoo.com