First Interview - Kimani Griffin

Kimani Griffin grew up in North Carolina apart of the High Point Speed Team. Over the years he has won numerous national medals and broken a large number of national records. His resume includes two Junior World Team appearances in 2006 and 2007. He also is the back-to-back Junior Men's Indoor National Champion. In Lincoln, Nebraska for the 2008 Indoor National Championships Kimani broke four records and won four gold medals, only failing to win a race he fell in. He was arguably the most winningest athlete at those championships and indisputably the fastest non Pro Elite skater there.
After dominating the National Indoor scene in 2008 Kimani took to another passion: his guitar. He is currently attending Columbus State University in Georgia for his Freshman year. Although his love for speed in undeniable his passion for music has forced him to but his skating on hold, at least temporarily.
-KC-Alright let's get right to the chase, are you enjoying your freshman year of college?
-KG-Most definitely I had to make a choice between guitar and skating, and I feel like I made the right decision. The work is constant and never ending but the female to guy ratio and the parties make it ok from time to time.

-KC-Is it everything you thought it would be?
-KG-Pretty much. I didn't think the work would be so time consuming, but its ok I suppose.

-KC-How has the music been treating you?
-KG-Great. I feel like I've definitely matured as a musician and I am putting together a concert repertoire for June. I have a concert scheduled for Italy so I'm physched about that as well.

-KC-Has it been difficult being so far away from home?
-KG-Not at all. It's just one more step to becoming adult.

-KC-When is your school year over?
-KG-Exam week is May 11-15th so somewhere in there.

-KC-Afterwards you will be back NC correct?
-KG-Yea I'll go back home try and get back in shape for regionals and nationals.

-KC-How long have you been skating? How long have you been on the guitar?
-KG-Pretty much about the same time. I started both when I was around 6 almost 7. So roughly 12 years.

-KC-Last year, and years past, how often were you practicing (skating)?
-KG-Last year and the year before had a little different schedules. Switching from High Point to Peidmont was different the sense of amount of training. In 2007 I was doing alot of indoor and outdoor about 6 times a week indoor and about 5 times a week outdoor give or take. Last year all I did was indoor about 5 times a week not too much outdoor at all really. I rode the bike for about the last 3 months of the season both years mainly focusing on interval sprints...So nothing too drastic.

-KC-How often are you practicing now in Georgia?
-KG-Not at all....Music takes up so much my time. College in general is a full time job and on top of working on 15 pieces of music at a time, between solo music, guitar duos, quartets, noctets (9 guitarist), weddings, flute and guitar, voice and guitar music it just never ends really. At the moment skating is on hold and I'm practicing guitar around 5-6 hrs a day.

-KC-Last year you were arguably the best/winningest athlete at Indoor Nationals then you went off to college. Is it frustrating at times that you cannot skate as much as you've grown accustomed to through the years?
-KG-I feel like I went off to college making a statement last year and somewhat the year before. Defending my title in 08, and winning 4 golds and setting 4 new records was in my mind all I could have asked for, except for the Senior 2 Man. But someone else needed a gold for their collection. But it's not frustrating as much as it is a part of life ya know?

-KC-Are you ever disappointed when you go to a meet and know that you are not quite performing to your potential, or at least at the level you have over the last couple of years?
-KG-Oh no doubt. Losing for me is possibly one of the biggest drives for me in anything. Skating in particular I know how much work, effort and time I've put in the sport so its definitely frustrating and disappointing.

-KC-What will you be skating at Nationals, Senior Men or Pro Elite? What are your expectations?
-KG-Probably Pro Elite in the sense I've won junior twice and will be racing the same people in Senior I would have over the past two years. I'm expecting to skate up to my standards....possibly like I did in 08' but who knows?

-KC-Out of everything you've ever done in life, what is your greatest accomplishment?
-KG-World team both years considering that has always been a dream ever since I was 9. But definitely Indoor Nationals 07 and 08 in particular is probably the highlight of my career. Finally people looked at the underdog as the quoted "fastest athlete at the event," for me was a definite confident booster.

-KC-What is one of your most embarrassing stories?
-KG-I don't really have any. Not the embarrassed type but I would probably say my first nationals in 2000, I went out for J.O. Juvenile boys warm up and 75% of the auditorium was telling me it was for the juvenile boys not girls....Perfect way to start the meet.

-KC-Who has been influential in your success? Not just in skating, but in everything.
-KG-Johnny Paterson and Harry Vogel Jr. and Sr. Johnny was pretty much a brother to me and when he passed in 2002 it still to this day has just been a driving force that has kept me motivated. When I first started skating at High Point in 1999 I immediately looked up to Harry Jr. despite the cockiness back then perhaps he has reason to be. I just admired his talent and motivation. Harry Sr. used to push me more than anyone at the rink and to me is pretty much my second dad. My mom for sure. I don't give her near enough credit she deserves, but she has supported everything in life I have ever wanted to do. So those three are no doubt the biggest influential figures in my life.

-KC-You are 18. You've made the Jr World Team, you've won national medals, broken national records. But is there anything you wish you could have done by now in the sport?
-KG-I guess be a world champion. But you know Im not really complaining with what is on my resume at the moment.

-KC-You are also a short track (ice) speed skater: have you given that up? Or do you plan on getting back to it?
-KG-Right now...given up. I just have no time to practice, compete, or anything for that matter. I feel like when I come back skating inline I can get back into the swing of things. Ice is totally different in that regard. So skating in general is on hold. Plus after my undergrad I want to pursue my masters degree so who knows right now?

-KC-What do you say to a young skater when they ask you how you got so fast?
-KG-Dedication, drive, and being hungry. I never accept defeat in anything and if I do lose best believe I'm coming back for seconds. Ever since I was little I just always wanted to be the best even if it was in putt-putt or a lame game of dodgeball. If you put the work into it you will see results.

-KC-When someone says the name Kimani Griffin what do you want people to remember?
-KG-People to recognize my talent and the work I put in. My friendliness to people I didn't even know. How open I was to people's criticism whether I thought they were right or not.

-KC-Alright, thanks for the interview. Any last words?
-KG-Be humble. Let your talent do the talking. Don't use me as a perfect example of that. But I do try.