UK: ATHLETICS: A brand new Madame Tussauds wax figure of Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt has been unveiled at the tourist attraction's London venue
Record ID:
859928
UK: ATHLETICS: A brand new Madame Tussauds wax figure of Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt has been unveiled at the tourist attraction's London venue
- Title: UK: ATHLETICS: A brand new Madame Tussauds wax figure of Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt has been unveiled at the tourist attraction's London venue
- Date: 23rd July 2012
- Summary: COMPETITION WINNERS AND FANS POSING WITH BOLT WAX FIGURE
- Embargoed: 7th August 2012 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: United Kingdom
- City:
- Country: United Kingdom
- Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment / Showbiz,Quirky,People,Sports
- Reuters ID: LVA2R4JW4HOV66NC5X9C603NNHLW
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- Story Text: Days before the start of the Olympics triple gold medallist and defending champion Usain Bolt has been immortalised in wax.
The Jamaican sprinter's wax figure was unveiled at Madame Tussauds in London on Monday (July 23).
Costing 150,000 GBP (233,000 USD), the wax figure took a team of 12 people around four months to make.
Although Bolt is yet to see the finished item according to Meike Schulze, the General Manager at Madame Tussauds in London, Bolt's seen a picture and "he absolutely loved it."
The wax figure is seen striking Bolt's famous victory pose, with his left hand pointing skyward and his right hand crossing his chest.
"It wasn't more difficult than any other position that we are creating and I think it's not been very difficult to choose the perfect position for Usain Bolt," Schulze said.
Bolt shot to international stardom following his breathtaking performance at the last Olympics in Beijing in 2008. He is the world record and Olympic record holder in the 100 metres, 200 metres and 4x100 metres relay, he is also the reigning Olympic champion in these three events.
Lucky competition winners and fans of the athlete gathered in London early on Monday morning to be the first to see his new statue.
16-year-old Sorcha Gavin from London is a sprinter herself, competing for her county in the 100 metres. She called Bolt an icon and said he's just what the sport needs: "I think it's really good that sports like his do have iconic people." However when asked if she ever strikes his victory pose after her races, she laughed and said no.
Meanwhile Charlotte Toney from website Itzcaribbean.com who ran the competition said he's an inspiration for young people: "There's been a lot of trouble going on in London at the moment with our youths, our PDC - poverty driven children as they call themselves, and Usain himself comes from a very similar background and he's managed to become the fastest man in the world and I think it's inspirational to show that it doesn't matter how hard your upbringing is if you work hard you can be the fastest man in the world and do whatever you want."
Bolt's wax statue will be on display in the attractions Olympic area within the sports zone. Positioned alongside other medal hopefuls Jessica Ennis and Tom Daley from team GB.
"We have re-vamped the entire interactive sporting zone so he will have his own dedicated area in that," Schulze explained. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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