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      *While host country China makes final preparations for the grand spectacle that is the opening ceremonies of the Olympic Games, US Olympic sprinter Shawn Crawford is preparing for competition.

      And though he is a veteran in the sport and no stranger to the Olympic podium – he took home the gold in the 200m and silver in the 4x100 m relay at the 2004 Games – Crawford is as eager as a new kid on the blocks.

      Crawford has been running professionally since 2000, but not all his track and field coverage has been about his wins. Crawford has consistently urged spectators to be on the lookout for him, but not always just to witness his lightening speed.

      In 2002, Crawford decided to sport a Phantom of the Opera mask at a meet in Milan. During the run, the mask shifted and with obstructed vision, Crawford ran out of his lane and was disqualified. In 2003, Crawford appeared on the show “Man vs. Beast” where he raced a giraffe and a zebra for 100m. The giraffe – no contest, but the Zebra bested the Olympian twice. Then there’s the runner’s continued want to run in war paint.

      It is now 2008 and another Olympic Games is upon us, and Crawford confessed that he has come to a more serious and mature point in his career, and is a veteran to how the race is really run.

      “Track and field is my career. You can make money at it, but it’s like with anything; it depends on how good you are and how well you’re liked,” he said.

      “Media can make or break you. If you have a great personality, the crowds buy into you and that will make you a more in-demand person. I can be at the top of my game, but have a bad attitude and a bad personality and nobody wants to come see Shawn.”

      Crawford humbly explained the importance of being a great personality as well as a great athlete for track and field fans around the world. He currently boasts Nike as a sponsor, and understands how to keep that type of endorsement. He explained that a track and field career is about running, appearance, and popularity.

      “You don’t have to [be], but it’s a plus,” he said of being personable. “In any field, whether you’re a doctor or whatever, you just have to be a people person.”

     Crawford runs approximately 15 meets during non-Olympic years, mostly in Eastern Europe. His competitions are divided by outdoor and indoor track seasons. The off seasons are still about running, however.

      “In all sports you have to be at the top of your game. When you step out to compete, you want to be competing at the best of your ability. With track and field our bodies have to be tuned to precision. It takes a while to get tuned to precision. You just can’t be running all the time and expect to compete at your full potential,” Crawford said.

     He explained that track athletes have to hone their skills all the time.

      “You’ve got to be at home practicing, making sure your running is precise, getting treatment – all that stuff. When you step out on the field as a track and field athlete, your body is like an Indy car or a top field dragster. You want it to be clicking on all eight cylinders every time.”

      Crawford continued that while in other sports such as football or basketball, athletes often can play injured, but for track athletes, that’s just impossible.

      “When we go out there, we’ve got to be ready to tune in,” he said. “A slight sprain there, ache here, those little things will put you in the back of the pack.”

      Crawford does weight lifting and conditioning as well as running in his training. He said that track and field athletes must make sure their technique is right and that they have strength in all muscles in order to be powerful enough to win the race.

      “It’s not just taking your natural ability to run and going out and competing with that. You take your natural ability and strengthen all the weaknesses in your natural ability and make it precise,” he said. “Every movement has to be efficient and account for something. You don’t want to waste any energy. Everything is tuned in towards the goal of winning and being a champion. That goal is to have a medal. That goal is to break records. That goal is to be the best.”

      Being the best for Crawford meant giving up some of the antics he’s become famous for and buckling down and becoming focused. There are no zebra races in his near future and Crawford is by no means out to race every challenger to greets him on the street, either. The sprinter said that he’s made some changes in how he lives his life outside the track and has made some inside the track, too.

       “As I’ve gotten older, I’ve matured,” he said. “I seem to take things more seriously than before. On and off the track, every decision affects my career.”

      Crawford also changed coaches in 2006. He was formerly coached by Trevor Graham, who has been embroiled in the steroid scandal with trainees Marion Jones and Justin Gatlin. Crawford now trains under Bob Kersee.

      “It’s fun,” Crawford added, though he admits training is hard work. “I enjoy what I do. I enjoy being driven to try to be the best.”

      Look for Shawn Crawford and his US teammates at the 2008 Summer Olympics beginning this Friday, 08/08/08. Full coverage of the events will be on NBC. For more on Team USA, check out www.nbcolympics.com.

          -------- ABFF 2008 --------
The 12th annual American Black Film Festival
returns to Los Angeles, August 7-10. Film
submission is now open. Registration
discounts are available through May 15.
For information visit www.abff.com