Remember when Usain Bolt grabbed a photographer’s camera after winning the 200 meters in London and started shooting photos with it? First, he took some pictures of silver medalist and training partner Yohan Blake, then he went for some crowd shots. It was probably my favorite moment of the London Olympics, especially because Bolt later said at a press conference “I am now a living legend. Bask in my glory. And if I don’t see this in paper I won’t talk to you. Follow me on Twitter.”What no one knew until now is that Bolt actually signed the camera that Scandinavian newspaper photographer Jimmy Wixtröm let him borrow. Well, autograph might be a strong word. Actually, Bolt carved his name into Wixtröm’s brand-spanking new Nikon D4 body (worth about six grand) with a screwdriver. It has to be the funniest autograph of all time: BOLT #1, scratched out like graffiti on an elementary school desk. And now it’s up for sale.
Sportbladet, the outlet Wixtröm shoots for, has put the body up on eBay at Wixtröm’s behest, with all the proceeds going to cancer research. The D4 is Nikon’s newly-released, top-of-the-line body, and this is surely the most famous example on Earth. Along with the body, Sportbladet is sending a framed 50×70cm print of Bolt holding the camera. I don’t have the $8,000 the camera’s currently going for, but if I did, I couldn’t imagine a funnier piece of London 2012 memorabilia, and the money goes to an awesome cause.
Follow Derek Mead on Twitter: @derektmead.
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