Confidence

Confidence

breeds

confidence

UCLA’s Ato Boldon has the talent to win and the confidence to
keep winning

By Tim Costner

Daily Bruin Senior Staff

As fast as UCLA’s Ato Boldon runs the 100-and the 200-meters, he
is even faster to predict his own victories.

With just three weeks left in the season, the junior has already
predicted wins in the Pac-10s and the NCAAs, and feels certain that
he will establish the UCLA record in both of his events by the end
of this year.

But while such predictions might seem presumptuous ­ even
audacious ­ that assessment isn’t exactly accurate. It’s just
that Boldon has so much confidence in what he does, that in his
mind, he has practically eliminated the possibility of losing. In
fact, he speaks with such certainty, it almost seems foolish to
second-guess him.

And it probably is.

Not only does the 21-year-old sprinter lead the NCAA in both of
his individual events, his 20.33 in the 200 is the second fastest
time in the world this year, and his wind-aided 10.01 in the 100
came in a race in which world record-holder Leroy Burrel only ran a
10.09.

His predictions, while daring, have a definite purpose. They
help him keep his edge.

"Sprinters by nature have to be confident because of what we
do," Boldon said. "We step to a line with people who may be as fast
or faster than we are. The mental game has to be played. I’m so
confident in my preparation that I know the results on the other
end will always be better than anyone else’s results."

For Boldon, this preparation is an ongoing, never ending
process. It extends throughout the year, and transcends just
getting into shape. The 5-foot-9-inch sprinter has given complete
commitment to winning.

"In track there is no off-season," Boldon said. "Track and field
is not a sport, it’s more of a lifestyle. It is not a sport where
you can take months off, eat garbage and let your weight get out of
hand. I have had to cut out alcohol and cut out red meat ­ it
has been a total sacrifice."

Part of that sacrifice has been giving up soccer ­ a sport
that he had played all his life while growing up in the island
nation of Trinidad. Boldon moved to New York City in 1988, and
played soccer for Jamaica High School in Queens. It was through
that sport that he began track and field.

Jamaica High track coach Joe Trupiano saw Boldon absolutely
leaving the other players behind. Trupiano convinced Boldon to come
out for the team, and in his first meet Boldon easily won the
55-meters. Just four years later, Boldon won the World Junior
Championships in the 100 and the 200, something which had never
been done before.

Soccer had to take a back seat.

"Most track coaches told me that I would have to give up
soccer," said Boldon, who was named All-CIF in soccer in 1991, the
same year he moved to California. "I am still haunted by soccer
ghosts. I’m out on the track and I see guys on the IM field playing
soccer, and it hurts my heart a little. But I also know that I was
on a couple of bad soccer teams in my career ­ the one thing I
like about track is its individuality."

This type of individuality can create a great deal of pressure,
especially when the field of runners includes Olympians. Boldon has
learned to handle the pressure by shifting his focus away from the
track.

"The day before the meet I try to think of everything else
besides track," Boldon said. "Even at the meet, when I step to the
line, I have already gone through what I’m going to do in the race.
Right before the gun goes off, I concentrate on my first seven
steps because that’s the only thing that is conscious."

The "first seven steps" is an approach to sprinting that UCLA
sprinting coach John Smith taught Boldon when he came to UCLA.

"It’s something that gives athletes something to pay attention
to," Smith said. "When you’re sprinting, you just don’t run with
reckless abandon. There is a pattern you have to run with. After
seven steps, it gives him the indication to sprint. It’s a basic
pattern. It’s just a matter of him staying with it and becoming
more efficient in that pattern."

It’s a technique that Boldon can take to the Olympics in 1996 in
his campaign for Trinidad. The sprinter has already represented
Trinidad in the 1992 Olympics, the 1993 World Championships and the
1994 World Commonwealth Games.

Boldon returns to the Caribbean about twice each summer.
Needless to say, he is a huge celebrity in his home country.

"I have a large following there," Boldon said. "My mother likes
to call me the Jordan of Trinidad ­ the name for me down there
is "Golden Boldon," which I hate. Everyone sees me as the next
Olympic hopeful. It’s better that I can train over here, where I
don’t have that distraction."

But the Olympics are more than a year away. Boldon has the
Pac-10s and the NCAAs looming ahead this month.

Aside from the individual titles, the sprinter should help the
Bruins defend the Pac-10 title, and could help them win the NCAA
title in Knoxville. Boldon will probably run the 100, the 200 and
the relays at the Pac-10s, while his races at the NCAAs are still
up in the air. Counting the 4×100 relay, Boldon has qualified for
three NCAA events, but will probably only run in two.

Boldon and Smith will decide which two after the Pac-10s in two
weeks.

"We have steps we have to take," said Smith. "Right now we have
to defend our title in the conference. He may have to run four
events there ­ we don’t know. I’m just focused on the Pac-10s.
The NCAAs and the other meets will follow."

And if Boldon’s predictions are correct about this season, he
will do the leading.