Carl Lewis, Who Was Born to Run, Says He’d Like to Make Music Next

The Carl Lewis Roadshow rolled into town Tuesday for its next stop on the track and field tour.

The four-time Olympic champion’s next trip to Zurich, however, may be in a rock star’s regalia rather than a track star’s shorts.

In addition to the dashes and long jump, Lewis is pursuing a musical career. Carl Lewis and his band, Electric Storm, should have an album in the shops before the end of the year.

He looked more like a pop star than a track and field athlete Tuesday, in an aquamarine smock, diamante topped sunglasses and wearing his faded designer jeans tucked into black and gold ankle boots.

He brushed one hand through his Grace Jones haircut and declared: “I am seriously thinking of a career as an entertainer when I finish with track and field. I plan to stick around for a long time, but I would like another career to step into when I finish as an athlete.”

He and the band have just finished recording their as yet untitled album on which he sings and plays keyboard.

Before Lewis seriously moves on to the pop world, he plans to compete in track at least until the 1988 Tokyo Olympics, when he will be 27.

For Lewis, this summer has been in marked contrast to 1984, when he won his predicted four gold medals at the Los Angeles Games.

He has competed only five times outdoors this year after damaging his right hamstring in May and aggravating the injury June 15 at the U.S. Championships in Indianapolis. However, he plans to run both the 100- and 200-meter dashes here today and will compete in at least four other European meets.