Urban Thought Collective

Hello UTC!

Things have been crazy and beautiful since I last peeked in on you! A couple of weeks ago, I was in Eugene, Oregon participating in the Olympic qualifying rounds. I am happy to report that I made it! I will be competing in the 200 meter race in Beijing! I am happy and excited, but my work is not done.

Traveling to China will be an amazing experience, and I’m more than honored to be in this elite group of the world’s best athletes. It will definitely be humbling to be in a place that has seen such a horrible tragedy with that recent earthquake. Especially since the wounds are still fresh. Although the earthquake didn’t happen in Beijing, it happened to the country, and I know that energy will definitely be there. It just reminds you of your blessings. A lot of these people have lost everything and have to struggle for basic life necessities, and we get to go home to all of our possessions. You want to help, just a conversation to let them know that people all over the world care about them. However, I have to focus on my job as an athlete. I just do what the Lord wants me to do. We’ll leave our passion on the track and let the Spirit do the rest.

That passion is inside all of us, whether we are teammates or rivals. I compete against a lot of incredible athletes. I don’t consider them real rivals because I think we each make each other better. But, someone has to win, right? Wallace Spearman, Xavier Cater, Yosair Pope, Dwight Thomas and Tyson Gay give me a run for my money every time!

Because of the high level of competition, there really isn’t a true off season in track and field. From January to September are the indoor meets. In the summer are the outdoor meets. We get one month off, and that is October. That’s my vacation. I go to the Carolinas and see family and just do me. I stay home and hardly move! I sit up in bed and really chill. I rest my body, work in my home music studio making beats, just pure relaxation. I have no kids, no wife, just me. I also love bass fishing! My grandmother taught me how and when I was small we used to go all the time, so I definitely make sure I do some of that. I’ll check out a drag race, too. That’s one of my favorite sports.

Well, that’s all for now. Thanks for letting me unwind with this blog and thanks for all of your support!

ICON sprinter Shawn Crawford ascended to the top of the track and field when he won the Gold medal in the 200 meters in the 2004 Olympics. Presently number six in the world, Crawford looks forward to winning the Gold once again in the 2008 Olympics. He is currently training with legendary Track and Field coach Bob Kersee. His periodic dispatches from the field will appear exclusively on UTC.