South African unicyclist impressed with Jamaican culture

Twenty-four-year-old South African, Christo Coetzer, who completed a tour of Jamaica on his unicycle has told the Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Olivia Grange that one of his lasting memories of Jamaica will be the "rich culture" of the people.

Christo Coetzer and his father, Theo, paid a courtesy call on Grange at her office last Wednesday.

Grange said Christo had been very welcome to Jamaica which had maintained a "great" relationship with South Africa.

"South Africa and Jamaica go a long way back in our cooperation. Just last year, a group of South African students visited for the 100th anniversary of Boys and Girls' Championships and we will have a prominent South African athlete for the upcoming Jamaica Invitational."

Christo said that he got a good look at Jamaican life as he toured the island on his unicycle, starting from the Bob Marley Museum in Kingston on March 28, and going from east to west through St Thomas, Portland, St Mary, St Ann, Trelawny, St James, Hanover and Westmoreland, and returning to Kingston by way of the south coast.

Met sprint king

At the museum, he met world record holder Usain Bolt, and in Portland, he was received by the mayor of Port Antonio.

"I stopped at schools and interacted with students. I spoke with people in many of the communities through which I passed. People were curious; they wanted to talk with me; they cheered me on. I even attended a stage show and I climbed the Blue Mountain. It was fantastic.

"It was my dream to tour Jamaica on my unicycle and to see the birthplace of Bob Marley, my favourite artiste. With the genuine warmth of the Jamaican people and interaction with them, my dream came true in a way that went way above my expectations."

Christo's father, who is an accountant and travelling evangelist, drove the "protective" car as his son rode through Jamaica.

Christo, who is also an author and football and rugby coach, has made a similar tour of Mauritius and says he intends to do Cuba and New Zealand next.

Minister Grange said she was inviting the Coetzers back to Jamaica "anytime".