Oz's new Bolt dream

David Knox • Published 4 Jun 2010 12:03 0 Comments

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IT'S every schoolboy's dream - but for a Jedburgh kebab shop owner lining up beside Usain Bolt at the London Olympics could become a reality.

Iskan Barskanmay has already held talks with his native Turkish Athletics Federation about pulling on his spikes for his country.

The 31-year-old, who moved to Scotland in 1995, has yet to compete in a proper scratch race.

And his preparation for facing the world's fastest men is training sessions on a strip of grass next to the A68.

But his electric pace has already won him his hometown Jed-Forest 110-metres, from an entry of almost 100 sprinters, and he was just edged into third at the famous New Year Sprint.

Along with coach Brian Chico Woods, he now has his sights sets firmly on achieving the Turkish Olympic standard - currently sitting at 10.8 seconds.

Iskan said: "The problem at the moment is that all of my times are done on grass so we don't really know exactly how fast I can go. My coach believes I am easily capable of running below 11 seconds and I'm confident of getting the time needed before the end of the 2011 summer.

"I spoke with the Turkish Athletics Federation and they don't need me to go back to Turkey to achieve the time - as long as it is at a recognised championships with proper timing facilities they will be happy.

"My ambition is now London 2012. Sometimes I dream of what it would be like to line up beside Usain Bolt and Asafa Powell but it is so amazing I can't even imagine it."

Iskan arrived in Hawick 15 years ago from Turkey to work in his uncle's kebab shop. It was during his first few months in Scotland that he witnessed local binman Drew Bryson coaching a group of kids in a park.

He added: "I saw Drew training his group and when he came into the shop I asked if I could have a go.

"I did okay but I couldn't train as much as I would have liked because of work. It's only in the last couple of years that I've managed to open my own shop in Jedburgh and can now train when I like that I have really improved.

"Chico has helped me a great deal as well and I believe I can make it to the Olympics."

Turkey failed to send any sprinters to the 2008 games in Beijing. And their current 100 metres record by Resat Oguz of 10.38 second has stood since 1998.

Bookmakers are already offering odds about the world record of 9.58 being smashed on the London track.

Iskan's coach Chico Woods admits his star runner will be the massive underdog if he does make it to the Olympic heats. He said: "He told me some time ago that he wanted to run for Turkey and that led to running at the Olympics. We have to be realistic here, this is just about getting there.

"We have plenty of goals closer to home with the Border Games season just about to start - but we will try our best to achieve the Olympic goal as well. Iskan thinks he's invincible - if he does get to London he'll think he can win it."

Iskan Barskanmay will line up in the 90-metres at Earlston Border Games on Saturday.

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