Clinton — the man of speed

If Brazilian free-kick specialist, footballer Roberto Carlos can boast that the girth of his leg measures some 61 cm (24 inches), why can’t our national sprint champ, cyclist Clinton Grant show off his which is a whopping 66 cm (26 ? inches)? That’s his storehouse of power, which means that if he should take up the challenge to sprint from Arima to Port-of-Spain on his bike, a distance of 26 km at his personal best of 10.6 sec per 200 m, the speedster would make it in under 23 minutes. A red-band maxi travelling the same distance along the Priority Bus Route usually takes on average 35 minutes. Match sprint is Clinton’s pet event. His aim where that is concerned, “is to better my personal best and to break the national record held by Stephen ‘Tyson’ Alfred,” Clinton told People.

Currently, he’s in “endurance phase” which translates to building strength and stamina. “I’m putting in long rides, three hours on average, and working out at the gym twice a week.” Training techniques have changed, he said and this he observed when a local team of cyclists, including himself, visited Scotland some months ago. So, while he’s increasing his squats to 400-450 lbs by next year, he’s also shedding the weight… he’s 170 lbs and dropping! Clinton was part of a nine-member team, which included Emile Abraham, Elisha Greene and Azikwe Kellar, who took part in the International Cycling Union’s B World Championships in Aigle, Switzerland in July. In the 1 km Time-Trial sprint event Clinton placed tenth in the qualifying round. In the Keirin sprint event he moved on to the finals, placing fifth out of six competitors. Emile Abraham brought home bronze in the Elimination event.

Clinton counts his experience at the Championships as a “good” one. He revealed: “Competing for Trinidad at an international event is like leaving Common Entrance to sit CXC. The (foreign) cyclists are better prepared. A lot of the times we have to go outside to see how it is done and you have to make a lot of sacrifices, like the Bovells (George Jr), the Gene Samuels and the Roger Gibbons. A lot of money is spent on the athelete’s part, and a lot of effort is made to get coaching…” Nevertheless, he hopes to compete at that “elite” level for the next three-four years. He’s not getting younger, the 32-year-old joked, and holding down a full-time job cuts back on training time. As Insurance Sales Representative for Clico (Maraval branch), Clinton’s daily routine is less than accommodating since he’s mostly on the road, and often times checking in on his roster of clients. And, for a change, the tanned legs (usually from mid-thigh down) are hidden under full-length trousers and his muscular frame, hidden behind long-sleeved shirts – a complete transformation from his appearance on track.

However, not only is his wear giving him that new image, but in recent times Clinton had been sporting a bald look, side burns and beard.
If you see the Clico ad where he’s all-dressed up in suit and tie, as well as the after-shave and deodorant Neutrogena ad – you’ve seen Clinton! Now he’s reverted to clean face – no side burns, no beard – and low fade. The change goes with the mood. Clinton joined the team at Clico in 1999, following in the footsteps of his father Winston Grant, a long-standing member of the insurance company. His mother, Marcia, is a retired primary school teacher. “Your father does a certain job and you look up to him,” Clinton said. It’s his first job ever, and “I feel comfortable doing it.” First job? He explained: “I am mono-focused. I always loved sport. My brother, Christian (who is ten years my senior) was a cyclist and he was a great influence.”

When Clinton and family moved from Tumpuna Ct, Arima to Petit Valley, the Arima Boys RC ex-student transferred to Newtown Boys and thereafter, Fatima College. A College classmate too, encouraged him to ride and when the duo met up with former cyclist Corkey De Gannes, who now runs a bike shop in Maraval, Clinton knew then he was heading in the right direction. Clinton joined then Corkey’s Casuals Club and in 1987, won his first Junior Bees (now Juveniles) race. Five years later, at the peak of his performance, he won his first match sprint at National level, his first International Grand Prix and Championships in Barbados, all in the same year. “Cycling brings a lot of enjoyment to me. I’ve never regretted it. I have a lot of great experiences and I’ve travelled to Argentina, Malaysia, raced through Europe the US and Canada,” he said. The commendations from admirers of the sport would tell him: “You’ve reached far considering where you come from (Trinidad)… You’re very fast.” For Clinton, that’s a whole lot of encouragement. The simple and unassuming bachelor, resides with his parents in Aranguez. When he gets the chance to sit back and relax, he cherishes it. Even if it means catching a movie – he likes the whole package, action/suspense/comedy/drama — or having an occasional beer with his friends in downtown Port-of-Spain, he relishes that.