With father in prison, adopted by aunt and living with a dozen relatives: American Fred As a child, Curley overcame many obstacles to become the pinnacle of speed on Saturday, winning the 100 meters at his country’s first World Championships in Athletics.
Like many other athletes, Texas sprinter He has tattoos all over his skin. But one of them, “Mem”, is probably more valuable than the others.
This is the nickname of his aunt Virginia, now 66 years old, and who has “to be always with me” engraved on her arm.
Curley He was only two years old when he moved to live with her and her four brothers in San Antonio, Texas after his father was sent to prison.
“I think about her every day because if it wasn’t for her, I probably wouldn’t be talking to you now,” Curley told reporters after winning the gold medal at the World Cup. Eugene World Cup (OR) with a time of 9.86 seconds.
Usually laconic and taciturn, Curley it took time to look back at the celebration at Hayward Field, where two other American athletes, Marvin Bracey and Trayvon Bromell, completed the podium.
“She sacrificed her life for me, my brothers and cousins. We were all adopted,” he recalled. “We were 13 people in one bedroom. At the end of the day, it was just like any other home, we were all having fun, having fun, and now we’re doing great things.”
“It’s amazing to achieve something that few people in my position have, and I thank her for giving me the chance to win in life,” she said of her aunt. “He’s probably blowing up my phone right now while we’re talking.”
“Today, I talk to my parents every day about the past and the present,” he continued. “I am an adult and now I can have a relationship with them. They weren’t here tonight (Saturday), but I can guarantee they saw it.”
Universal
Sports career Curlythe unusual phenomenon in athletics that went from winning medals in the 400 meters to the 100 meters was also not a straight line.
In high school, he excelled in football and basketball, but a broken collarbone finally pushed him into athletics.
At his stage in college Texas A&M also showed off its versatility.
The world’s new fastest man started out as a specialist in the 400 meters, a discipline that enhanced the enormous power with which he returned in the closing meters of the final this Saturday to overtake Bracey.
In the 400 meters he won his first medals in World Cups: silver in 2017, gold two years later in the 4×400 meters relay and bronze in the Doha 2019 individual competition.
At shorter distances, he has an upward trajectory: an Olympic silver in the Tokyo 2020 100m and his first big gold this Saturday.
“do big things”
Feat Curly27 years old, admired even by his closest competitors, such as himself Bracey.
“This guy (Curley) is special, he has a rare talent, he can pass three tests, his range is unlimited,” he admitted. Bracey. “Maybe next year he will run the 800 meters, we don’t know. He’s a special guy from an elite group like Bolt (Usain).”
“I did what few 400m runners have done,” Curley said. “I used to run 100m, 200m and long jump in high school. Now I’m back to my youthful passions.”
In Eugene, the work has not yet been done. The insatiable sprinter wants to claim a medal in the third discipline, the 200m, and will also take part in the 4x100m relay.
“The future looks bright to me,” he said. “Where I come from motivates me to keep doing great things because you don’t want to end up in the same difficult situation you were in when you were younger.”
AFP
Source: RPP
I’m Liza Grey, an experienced news writer and author at the Buna Times. I specialize in writing about economic issues, with a focus on uncovering stories that have a positive impact on society. With over seven years of experience in the news industry, I am highly knowledgeable about current events and the ways in which they affect our daily lives.