Carl Lewis eyes Hollywood

First came the nine Olympic gold medals. Next stop a Hollywood Oscar. Carl Lewis has his sights set on an acting career.

Swimmer Johnny Weissmuller made it as Tarzan in the movies. So why not Lewis as a star of the silver screen?

Lewis, who now has a home in Los Angeles and is studying and practising for acting roles, said: "It is very rewarding. You have to work very hard just as you do in athletics."

"It's no different. You have to set goals and just like sport, if you can't handle rejection, it is the wrong business to be in," he told Reuters.

Soaking in the Olympic atmosphere at the Sydney Games without having to face all the pressures of competition, he said of his new career: "It is a different world but a new challenge. I feel fortunate I can start over again after a successful career."

Lewis, who now has his own entertainment production company, said "The first show I am doing is co-hosting a youth fitness oriented programme for kids with hip-hop music. Then of course I am still studying and reading for movie roles."

The mighty sprinter who made every U.S. Olympic team from 1980 through to 1996 cherishes above all the memory of his first and last gold medals.

"They were the standouts for me. The fact you can win an Olympic medal is beyond belief," he said.

Recalling the day in Atlanta he took some sand from the pit after winning the long jump for the last time, he said: "I have no regrets at all. I don't look back at all."

"I took the sand because of memories. I still have some and display it. It was just a memory of a wonderful time. I have no desire to compete again whatsoever."

Lewis will forever be remembered for that historic 100 metres clash in 1988 against Canada's Ben Johnson in Seoul which ended in the Canadian sprinter being disqualified for drugs and going "From hero to zero" overnight.

So what does Carl Lewis think the sport's chances are of cleaning up its act and keeping one step ahead of drug cheats?

"I think there is far too much attention put on the fact that they can't stop it. They really can if there is 100 percent commitment. It seems like they are moving in that direction."

"It is obvious that Sydney is very focused on having as clean a Games as possible, so I think we are in the best situation we have been in for a long time."

In acting, he would like to be known as an all-rounder. "You want to try and do different types. Hopefully, I can look back in five or 10 or 15 years that I did a comedy, I did action, I did dramatic, I did dark comedy."

Lewis, doing the rounds with corporate sponsors in Sydney and wowing teenagers with his motivational speeches about what they can achieve, certainly does not expect a juicy lead role to land in his lap.

Asked if there was any actor he particularly admired, he said: "Anyone who has a job."

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