Cristiano RonaldoHer rise to football greatness is no secret, but the fascinating story of how the Portuguese icon found inspiration in one of the world's fastest men has come to light.
Long before his record-breaking career, Ronaldo would watch Olympic sprinter Francis Obikwelu train and be imbued with the discipline and dedication it takes to excel.
During his early days at Sporting Lisbon, Ronaldo would often return after his training to watch the athletic team play.
One athlete who particularly caught his eye was Ovikvelu, the 100m silver medalist at the 2004 Athens Olympics and one of the fastest men in Europe.
Ronaldo's fascination with speed and power was evident when observing Obikwelu's rigorous training routine.
400m hurdles Olympian Jorge Paula shared this amazing story in an interview. Abola). He recalled seeing Ronaldo's constant efforts for self-improvement.
“At first, Ronaldo used to train in the gym with other players.” Paula said. “But as time went on, Cristiano showed up every day and worked harder than anyone else.”
more: All the latest soccer action | Cristiano Ronaldo news
What if Ronaldo was an Olympic athlete?
Paula also believes that Ronaldo's athleticism could lead to success in track and field. “He’s explosive and powerful,” Paula said. “He would be great in events like the 60-metre or jumping competitions.”
Ronaldo's admiration for Obikwelu's work ethic seems to have fueled his own. This discipline helped him become one of the most dominant players in football, known for his speed, agility and unrivaled drive.
Currently at Al-Nasr in Saudi Arabia, Ronaldo continues to push the envelope. His future remains uncertain, but one thing is clear. Inspired by moments like seeing the Obikwelu train, his commitment to greatness never wavered.
2025-01-02 13:21:31
How Cristiano Ronaldo was inspired by Olympic sprinters
