By Jenny Clover
KIGALI, July 12 (Reuters) – Adrien Niyonshuti’s memories of
Rwanda’s genocide are hazy, but when he needs to shut off his
mind and forget the slaughter that killed six of his brothers he
jumps on his bike.
The small-framed 25-year-old is readying to become the east
African country’s first Olympic mountain biker, honoured with
carrying the national flag at the opening ceremony of the London
Games.
“When I ride my bike, there’s no one who can stop me or ask
me anything so things are really good,” Niyonshuti told Reuters
in the Rwandan capital, Kigali. “Riding gives me an opportunity
to help forget the things that happened in 1994.”
Niyonshuti and his infectious grin are becoming increasingly
well known in the city. As he cycles through the streets he is
repeatedly called out to by well-wishers.
It was his uncle who inspired Niyonshuti as a youngster.
“Even though he wasn’t professional, my uncle was a champion
in Rwanda for many years and everyone in this country knows
him.”
Aged 14, his uncle took him to watch the Tour de Rwanda race
through his home town.
“I said to my uncle: ‘I want to be like those guys one day’.
He said ‘Yeah? You can be’.”
Continued…
