The next Usain Bolt
September 25 2009 at 12:29PM
London - A schoolboy has been hailed as the UK’s answer to Usain Bolt after smashing a national record - in only his second race.
Clovis Asong, 14, ran the 400 metres in an incredible 48.86 seconds, despite only having had one formal training session.
His time broke the previous English schools under-15s record by more than a second.
Mother Beatrice Efuet said she was ‘so proud’ to watch her son -a pupil at Our Lady’s Sports College in Higher Blackley, Manchester - in his record-breaking run at the championships in Sheffield.
‘I never push him to train,’ Ms Efuet, from Blackley, said. 'But he has a natural talent. He just loves to do it.
‘He already is a great role model to his brothers and I hope he will be a great inspiration to other young people.’
Usain Bolt is currently the world’s fastest man. Dubbed ‘The Lightning Bolt’ the 23-year-old Jamaican holds the world records for the 100m and 200m, at 9.58secs and 19.19 secs respectively.
At 15, Bolt achieved a personal best of 48.28 in the 400 metres - just 0.58 seconds faster than Clovis has achieved while still a year younger.
Coaches at Sale Harriers have now tipped 5ft 9in Clovis as a future Olympic star after witnessing his record-breaking race.
Trainer Danny Gray said: ‘To watch him cross the finish line was better than doing it myself. It was like a dream come true. The buzz of being at that event was just overwhelming.’
Mr Gray said that when Clovis received his gold medal he didn’t want to put it on, but instead just slipped it into his pocket.
He said: ‘He knows he’s good, but it’s almost as if he doesn’t understand what he’s achieved. It’s like it’s just another day for him.’
As well as 400m, Clovis competes in the shot putt, long jump, hurdles and high jump and also plays badminton and basketball.
The schoolboy is from Cameroon, but is now a registered British citizen and would be able to represent Britain at the Olympics.
Mr Gray said that while the London Olympics in 2012 might come too quickly for Clovis, there was no telling what he might achieve.
He said: ‘2012 is probably a little too soon for Clovis. But having said that, He has shocked us all before, so who’s to say he can’t do it again?’
Mike Leader, deputy headteacher at Clovis’s school, said the teenager manages to keep up with his schoolwork despite a hectic training schedule.
‘Clovis is a gentle giant, but potentially he’s an absolutely unbelievable talent,’ he said.
The adult world record for the last 10 years has been held by Michael Johnson, at 43.18 seconds. - Daily Mail