CHINA: OLYMPICS BEIJING 2008 - Togo's first Olympic medallist eager to visit the country...for the second time
Record ID:
329619
CHINA: OLYMPICS BEIJING 2008 - Togo's first Olympic medallist eager to visit the country...for the second time
- Title: CHINA: OLYMPICS BEIJING 2008 - Togo's first Olympic medallist eager to visit the country...for the second time
- Date: 13th August 2008
- Summary: BEIJING, CHINA (AUGUST 12) (REUTERS) SECURITY GATE AT OLYMPICS VILLAGE SECURITY SIGN WOMAN WALKING TOGO'S FIRST MEDALLIST, BENJAMIN BOUKPETI, SURROUNDED BY FANS (SOUNDBITE) (French) BENJAMIN BOUKPETI, TOGO'S FIRST MEDAlLIST, SAYING: "I'd like to go back in my kayak. My kayak is where I feel better" CLOSE-UP OF bronze MEDAL (SOUNDBITE) (French) BENJAMIN BOUKPETI, TOGO'S FIRST MEDAlLIST, SAYING: "I think I must go (to Togo). I think I have no choice. I have relatives there. And they saw me when I was one year old. Now that I'm 27 years old, they should be able to see a man who has achieved something. That would make me very happy" BOUKPETI SHOWING AND KISSING HIS MEDAL
- Embargoed: 28th August 2008 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: China
- Country: China
- Topics: Sports
- Reuters ID: LVA7L1150AWGQEP8WGZEORY65WZA
- Story Text: Togo's first-ever Olympic medallist says it is time to visit the country -- for the second time in his life.
Winning the first-ever Olympic medal for Togo, white water kayaker Benjamin Boukpeti was spending a busy night on Tuesday (August 12) dealing with reporters and fans who flocked to the Olympic Village in Beijing.
Not being used to dealing with fame, Boukpeti said: "I'd like to go back in my kayak. My kayak is where I feel better."
Ranked 56th in the world, Boukpeti stunned the field and bewildered spectators when he took the lead in the first of two final runs, then held on for bronze in his second run.
Boukpeti, aged 27, won bronze in the men's singles kayak slalom on Tuesday competing for Togo, although he was born and raised in France to a French mother and Togolese father. He has only visited the African country once, when he was just one year old.
He said on Tuesday it was time for him to go back.
"I think I must go (to Togo). I think I have no choice. I have relatives there. And they saw me when I was one year old. Now that I'm 27 years old, they should be able to see a man who has achieved something. That would make me very happy," said Boukpeti.
The kayaker sought to compete for the West African nation when it became clear that he was too old to have a real shot of making the French team.
Boukpeti lives in Toulouse, southern France. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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