Tristan AfreKareem Williams light test. Launch Gallery »While filming for a V-Club video last spring, Austin via Richardson, Texas local and The Set flow team rider Kareem Williams broke his leg in two places and had been off his bike for eight months. During that time, Williams focused on healing, started to create his own music and drove his mom to work. Now almost fully healed and aboard a new bike from The Set, we sat down to talk with Kareem about the injury, the downtime and what's up next.
The Return of Kareem Williams
ESPN.com: It's been awhile since you've been on a bike, how close to 100% are you feeling? Does it feel like your leg healed right?
Williams: I'm feeling about 75%. My leg feels better. It feels good, I mean I can ride and I haven't lost nothing.
How did you spend your downtime?
Hangin with my friends, rappin, hangin out with my dog, taking my mom to work, being a responsible kid. That's what I do.
Is the music something you did to keep you occupied or are you still going to pursue it?
Oh the music, I like my music. I think it's tight. And if you don't like my music, sorry. I don't care, so I'm going to keep doing it.
So you quit smoking while your leg was healing, have you managed to keep that up?
I kinda quit. You ever hear of "kinda quit," it's like when you only eat four or five nuggets instead of ten nuggets.
You've become known for doing threes and taking some big drops. Has this injury affected your confidence or desire to do big stuff?
Kinda. It's made me more cautious and makes me analyze things. If I don't think I can do it, I'm not going to do it. But I mean, you've got to go hard or go home.
How have things been going with The Set? How does your new bike feel?
My new bike feels tight. Mark seems like a pretty cool cat, but I haven't met him yet. But that's going to be soon, I'm going over there [Australia], and it's gonna be tight. Leaving the states, doing what I do.
Sounds like you got a lot of help getting a new ride together, any shout outs?
Shout out to The Set, number one, for sending me a bike. I know that cost em a lot of money. Shout out to Sean Sexton and Chase Hawk for hooking me up with these wheels. Shout out to Richardson Bike Mart for putting my bike together for me because they know I can't do it!
Do you have any plans or goals for 2012? are we going to see more of you on a bike?
If Stew Johnson will film me, you'll see more of me on my bike! But he's too busy. Maybe if I go back on Road Fools, but I don't think thats going to happen.
Anything else the world needs to know about Kareem?
Follow me on Twitter (@kareemjwilliams), add me on Facebook, listen to my music, look at theyaintready.com, The Set, V-Club and T-Town photos, yeah.
MUST READ
After recovering from a femur break suffered at X Games 17, Chad Kagy has returned.
Interview » Gallery 
- Video: Lino Gonzalez video rewind
- Gallery: Ryan Guettler in Calif.
- Setups: Ben Hucke's Diamond Back
- Street: Tom Dugan for etnies footwear »
- Park: Pat Casey moves to Haro team »
- Flatland: Inside Terry Adams' home
- Race: UCI Supercross Norway »
- Trails: Mike Saavedra's trails
- Old School: Bob Haro returns with Ikonix »
- In memoriam: FBM legend Mike Tag »
MORE BMX
- Hoffman's Zack Warden
- Zack Warden is the only rider pushing the bike flip.
- Flatland with Lea Dobrowski
- Lea Dobrowski sessions Chenga's flatland area.
- Shad Johnson's collection
- Goods BMX owner goes inside his vintage collection.
- Empire BMX Vans collab
- Vans teams up with Empire for a new collab shoe.
BMX ATHLETES ON TWITTER
You must be signed in to post a comment