Spikes18 Nov 2013


What we learnt at the IAAF Gala

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SAFP and Bolt

1. There’s something about Mary Cain.

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After announcing that she was going pro, the 17-year-old middle distance sensation proved a hit in her first big press conference. She was so good at addressing the world’s media, in fact, that her new agent Ricky Simms (the man behind Mo Farah and Usain Bolt), joked that Mary could host media training lessons for fellow athletes.

2. Mondo running tracks come in all these wonderful colours.

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3. Usain Bolt can fill a dance floor in under 9.58 seconds.

Usain Bolt jig

The big man only managed to bust a couple of moves on the Monaco dance floor before he was swamped. 

4. When she’s not being awesome at athletics, shot put queen Val Adams loves to mow her lawn.

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5. Olympic TJ champ Christian Taylor really is the perfect gentleman.

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Just when we thought Taylor couldn’t get any cooler, he went and brought his mum to the gala. They even shared a dance. What a legend!

6. Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce for Prime Minister.

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It might have started with a throwaway comment about running for PM, but SAFP holds many qualities of a good leader. She’s calm, eloquent, engaging – and a powerful speaker. #YesShellCan.

7. The Heff don’t rest, even on holiday.

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8. Sandra Perkovic is the world’s fastest talking athlete.

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Here’s the proof: http://buff.ly/18J10dR

9. Throwing royalty Yuriy Sedykh and Natalya Lisovskaya are seriously hilarious.

 

The respective hammer and shot legends, and new hall of fame inductees, really need their own TV show. Keeping Up With The Sedykhs, anyone?

10. Teddy Tamgho will beat you in a dance off.

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The French triple jump star was spotted out on the tiles after the gala, and he has some serious moves…

11. Jehue Gordon is a big Chelsea FC fan.

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When the Trinidad & Tobago world 400m hurdles champ visited the club earlier this year, Blues defender Gary Cahill even gave him his shirt – which Gordon was showing off in Monaco.

12. World athletics is heading to Tracktown.

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With a bit of help from decathlon god Ashton Eaton – Portland, Oregon won the right to host the IAAF World Indoor Championships in 2016. Birmingham, England will host it two years later.

13. It’s Bogdan, NOT Boe-dan.

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Glad we’ve cleared that up.