Neymar ran to the sideline and struck the famous Usain Bolt lightning pose. It was football’s biggest Olympic star honouring one of the London Games’ most acclaimed athletes.
Neymar celebrated by imitating his idol after scoring from a free-kick and leading Brazil to a 3-1 win over Belarus on Sunday, securing the gold medal favourites a spot in the quarterfinals of the men’s Olympic tournament.
“It was for Bolt, we did his celebration,” Neymar said.
Neymar has his own legion of fans following him everywhere he shows up, but even before heading for London he had already said he was hoping to meet Bolt to get an autograph and take a photo with the Jamaican, who will be competing later in the Olympics.
“I haven’t met him yet but I hope it happens,” said the 20-year-old Brazilian, touted as the future of Brazilian football.
It’s different for girls
Robbie Savage was heard to say the following to swimmer Mark Foster while watching Korea’s men play China in the hockey at the Riverbank Arena.
“This is a game for girls. Mind you, your sport [swimming], isn’t even a sport, it’s a past-time.”
The same Robbie Savage who, as a former Welsh international footballer, found wider fame by taking part in the BBC TV ballroom dancing programme Strictly Come Dancing.
Wrong turn for Cisse
Senegal men’s football team press conference at Wembley Stadium Saturday night was delayed by an hour when the coach of the African side got lost inside the vast stadium.
Aliou Cisse played for Birmingham City and Portsmouth in the English Premier League but never at Wembley.
“This is the Olympics and there’s always plenty of security, but somehow I finished up on the other side of the stadium to the media conference room,” Cisse said. “But I’m here now and that’s all that counts.”
Bindra off target
Beijing Olympics gold medalist Abhinav Bindra crashed out of the London Games by failing to qualify for men’s 10-metre air rifle final while compatriot Gagan Narang made it with an overall score of 598 on Monday.
Bindra, who became India’s first individual Olympic gold medalist in Beijing, shot 594 to finish 16th out of 47 contestants.
Narang was one of the top eight shooters who qualified for the medal round later in the day.
-With The Daily Star input
