2014-07-31 13:56
If Zane Robertson did decide to reach the disco in celebration of his surprise bronze medal, he wouldn't have needed a change in footwear. The latest Kiwi to win a Commonwealth Games medal yesterday as he ripped around the course inside Hampden Park, Scotland's national stadium while wearing the famous black singlet added a little colour to his ensemble.
On the left, the boot was lime green, seeming akin to some air jordan retro 4.hing out of Usain Bolt's wardrobe.
The footwear would barely be out of place in one of the bustling pubs in Glasgow central, bloated with Games traffic for the last several days. But Robertson - a well spoken and, when not winning medals, instead reserved 24-year old - is unfamiliar with that kind of environment. He's more at home in the Kenyan town of Iten, public 42,000, where he and Jake moved from Hamilton own at just 17, taking with them small but of winning medals while wearing the silver fern.
That aversion to such an animated societal scene meant Robertson planned to observe the "greatest day of his life" in more low-key way.
"Tonight I can party up, no problem. I've been sleeping the last 48 hours anyway," he said. "But I will not go to the disco or the nightclub. I will likely be in the mess hall for a while."
If, that is, they hold around the strenuous training sessions that will resume as soon as the party ends.
"It was only a Nike layout from I am unsure what year. I'm still without a contract but I am waiting on that - I believe this will help," he joked. "I have actually got some holes in the shoes - they are getting a little bit old."
Those shoes, those worn and torn and medal-winning shoes, reflect where Robertson has come from.
"Nowhere," was likely the consensus among Kiwi fans quizzed after his efforts in Glasgow. The men's 5000m was guessed to be about Nick Willis chasing the 1500-5000 double with which he is been toying.
The other two in black, skinny as whippets and, luckily for commentators, easily distinguishable due to contrasting hairdos, were supporting players in the New Zealand narrative. That's to not say they were without intrigue, however.
Actually, the twins' narrative has been fascinating, or even the most accessible. They were absent in the track and field team's pre-Games training camp.
The low profile approach was far from a surprise. All things considered, if a Kiwi sportsman is looking to avoid the limelight, there are few places on earth more effective than Kenya. But that has been never a determining factor air jordans 11.when the twins made their big move.
There was one that came firmly into focus on a gray Glasgow day, only one motivation.
"We had go to bed and we had dream of this. That's why we wake up to work challenging.
"Dreams are only realized with a strategy - it becomes more of a goal. Just to have this success today, it's merely the most joyful day of my life."
Seven years without seeing his parents, sleeping rough in a small room shared with his brother - a lot of sportsmen talk about sacrifices but it would be challenging to uncover many as singularly ascertained as the Robertsons.
"I have worked seven hard years and in the early years in Africa I forfeited a lot. I do not see it that way anymore. I am living the dream, travelling around the world and having complete enjoyment living my life. Now, all those sacrifices I questioned initially, they've paid off."
The precise reasons the Robertsons chosen to make those sacrifices could be gleaned from one peek at the scoreboard following the 5000m race. Kenyans in fourth, second and first.
"[Caleb] Ndiku, the winner, he is likely the best in the world this season, and he's a close buddy of mine from training in Iten," Robertson said.
"Right now he is the Dennis Rodman of tra air jordan 3.k and field. He dyed his hair reddish at the world indoors and now it is gold."
Robertson's got a style of his own. It may be unusual but, in line, it could see him with brother Jake to climb a few more podiums in a long time.
