Carl Lewis Comes to China First Time

Carl Lewis Comes to China First Time

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Carl Lewis, winner of nine Olympic gold medals and the former fastest sprinter in the world, stepped on the land of China for the first time this afternoon to take a four-day business tour.

"I have travelled all over the world, but it is my first time to China," said the 40-year-old American legend, who retired from the international competition in August, 1997. "I want to see the Great Wall and tour around here. For the China tour, I've prepared a camera first time in my life," he added.

Lewis, who was invited by Nike, will attend the First Chinese Sports Industry Seminar in Beijing next Monday. The Olympic hero, named the Greatest Athlete of the Century by the IAAF in 1999, will give a lecture at the China Grand Hotel.

Lewis, who won four gold medals in the men's 100, 200, long jump and 4x100 relay at Los Angeles Olympics in 1984 and picked up eight world titles during his long, brilliant career, is one of the most well-known foreign athletes for the Chinese people.

According to the tour schedule, Lewis will visit the Chinese track and field training camp tomorrow morning and do some sports communications there with Chinese coaches and some young local runners.

Lewis will leave Beijing Tuesday.