He gives me pointers: Try to keep up with the front guys and stay strong ... words of encouragement.

It's not like my top priority. It's not an obsession.

I just had that kick at the end. We worked together for the first two laps, but it's anybody's race after that.

I want to break his record in the mile but there's not too much pressure. I just want to be good at running because he was. He doesn't care if I run or not. I could be playing tennis.

Hiro (the Crown Prince) was kind and often gave me words of encouragement. Aya (Prince Akishino) was a child who was sensitive and considerate; at the same time, there were times when he seemed to keep an eye on me out of concern so that I would not fail to recognize the truth about myself. When Hiro told me that I looked young for my age, Aya came to me that night and corrected his brother's remark with a straight face, saying,

Bart, having never received any words of encouragement myself, I'm not sure how they're supposed to sound. But here goes: I believe in you.