Clement embraces Nitro format

Rio Olympics champion Kerron Clement is a key member of Usain Bolt's All Stars squad for the Nitro Athletics series.

American Kerron Clement might just be the perfect embodiment of the upcoming Nitro Athletics series, which is being flagged as a game-changing blend of elite sport and entertainment.

Usain Bolt is the unchallenged headline act of Nitro, which will run for three nights at Melbourne's Lakeside Stadium on February 4, 9 and 11.

The Jamaican super-sprinter has stacked his All Stars squad with a host of Olympic and world champions including Clement, who topped the podium in the 400m hurdles at the Rio Olympics.

The versatile 31-year-old is also an accomplished flat sprinter, having been a key member of the US 4x400m squads who won gold at the Beijing Olympics and the 2007 and 2009 world championships.

The part-time model's other big claim to fame is having appeared in the 2011 music video for Beyonce's smash hit Run The World (Girls).

"Years later and people still ask about the Beyonce stuff," Clement said on Monday.

"It was fun and I love to be a part of entertainment.

"That was a great experience to be a part of that with Beyonce and everyone knows (about it) now.

"But I am more of a Mariah Carey fan."

As was the case with Bolt, it was retired Australian 400m star John Steffensen who played a key role in convincing Clement to be part of Nitro Athletics.

He was particularly taken with the teams-based concept which includes a number of relays in addition to individual events, many of them run over non-traditional distances.

"I did a lot of stuff when I was at college," said Clement.

"I did the 200 and I did the 400 of course so I am excited to be a part of the relays.

"Definitely track and field needed a different aspect, a different feel for the sport and I think this plays to that."

Again, there's that balance between sport and entertainment.

"I think it would drive you insane if you were thinking about track 24/7," said Clement.

"So for me I also do photography and get my mind off track with something I love to do which is photography and modelling."


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Source: AAP



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