Usain Bolt statue of iron bolts attracts thousands in Germany

Fuelled by Bolt’s exploits on the track at the World Championships in Bejiing, China, the statue has been drawing throngs of crowds, and attracting the attention of German newspapers and television stations in recent weeks.

German musician Diedel Kloever, a 54 year old visual artiste, born in Varel, North Germany, is enthusiastic that the statue has been drawing such large crowds.

“Bolt is a sprint extraordinaire, one of the greatest that the world has ever seen. I am really proud to have ties with Jamaica,” said Kloever, whose wife is Jamaican, Marcia Kloever a.k.a Sista Gracy, a reggae singer from St Mary, Jamaica.

“A lot of people came to see the statue at the same time Bolt was running in Bejing, even a famous German movie star was here and took pictures with the statue,” he said.

The statue of Usain Bolt, made entirely of bolts and screws, was inspired by his world record-breaking run in Berlin 2009, and was completed in 2012 after an exhausting, exhaustive labour of love by its creator. Battered tin platings were used for the athlete’s clothing, and even the Puma logo – made of three tongs and a crane hook – is included.

“It was hard to get it done, it needed a certain amount of skill, and I had it. it was particularly tricky with the face and head since Bolt never actually came to the yard for me to model the work, so I had to use pictures and it worked out really good,” he said.

Bolt has never actually visited the statue, but he did repost a link to the photo of the statue on his Facebook page.

“A lot of people have approached me to buy the statue, but I cannot do that, this is my gift to the people. I can’t hide it, thats why it is in my sculpture garden in Varel,” he said.

Diedel once played bass for the Herbman band known throughout Germany for songs like My Praises, a collaboration with Sugar Minott; Yardy Dub,, Shining Star and Spiritual and Humble. Then 12 years ago, he refocused on his creative side, and began welding unique creations from scrap metal.

“Every piece of metal had a life before and I transform it into something else,” he said.

The work of art is on display in an exhibition called ‘Yard Art’ in August each year. Painter Daniel Thompson from the Nanook community visited as part of UP United Purpose Tour out of Kingston Jamaica which is  is part sponsored by the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Technology