Carl Lewis says Chris Christie 'bullied him' to drop out of 2011 senate race
Olympic legend Carl Lewis has said Republican New Jersey Governor Chris Christie cancelled a plan to appoint him the state's first physical fitness ambassador after he launched a political campaign against a Christie friend.
The nine-time Olympic gold medallist said Christie called to dissuade him from running as a Democrat for state Senate in 2011 against Republican Senator Dawn Addiego.
According to the Huffington Post, Lewis said he was told the fitness programme they had been developing wouldn't materialize if he ran, adding that Christie felt the post 'was a carrot he could pull away'.
Lewis withdrew from the Senate race after a court ruled he didn't meet a residency requirement.