http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Athletics/Games/.../622052-ap.htmlFan completes run for Thai hero
BANGKOK (AP) - His knees hurting and feet swollen, boxing fan Uthen Theekayu completed an eight-day 400-kilometre run to the house of Thailand's Olympic boxing champion, fulfilling a promise he had made before the Games.
Hundreds of people greeted Uthen late Wednesday when he reached the home of Thailand's latest sporting hero Manus Boonchamnong in Ratchaburi province. Uthen, a 41-year-old waiter, had set out from his home in Rayong province on Sept. 1 to make good on his promise that he would run to the house of any Thai boxer who won a gold medal at the Athens Olympics.
Manus was not home when Uthen arrived. He had gone to the nearby beach resort of Hua Hin where he and seven other athletes who won medals at the Olympics are scheduled to be given an audience by Thailand's King Bhumibol Adulyadej at his palace later Thursday.
Manus had, however, instructed his mother Malee to bring Uthen to Hua Hin.
After the audition with the king, Manus plans to present Uthen with a 30-gram gold necklace, Malee told reporters.
Uthen ran between six to eight hours every day, spending the nights at highway police stations. And while he ate with the policemen, he refused their offer to give him a ride in their vehicles, despite extreme physical discomfort.
"Manus is a real hero. He will give me a gold necklace, a bonus I did not expect," Uthen said, adding that he will be back at work at the Amarin Cafe in Rayong very soon.
The Ratchaburi Sports Association has promised to give Uthen him 2,000 baht ($61.90 Cdn) for expenses on his journey back home.
Besides Manus, two women weightlifters also won gold medals at Athens. In addition, Thailand got one silver in boxing and four bronze medals in women's weightlifting, boxing and taekwondo.