Hidekichi Miyazaki (in red), 105, imitates the pose of Usain Bolt after
running with other competitors over eighty years of age during a
100-metre-dash in the Kyoto Masters Autumn Competiton in Kyoto, western
Japan, on September 23, 2015. PHOTO | AFP
KYOTO
A fleet-footed Japanese
centenarian raced into the Guinness World Records reference book on
Wednesday and declared himself a "medical marvel" as he continues to
stalk sprint king Usain Bolt.
Hidekichi
Miyazaki, dubbed "Golden Bolt" after the fastest man on the planet,
clocked 42.22 seconds in Kyoto to set a 100 metres world record in the
over-105 age category — one for which no mark previously existed — a day
after reaching the milestone age.
Hidekichi Miyazaki (C) raises his hand when he
is introduced on the start line for the men's 100m dash at a Japan
Masters Athletics competition in Kyoto on August 3, 2014. PHOTO | AFP
"I'm
not happy with the time," the pint-sized Miyazaki told AFP in an
interview after recovering his wind. "I started shedding tears during
the race because I was going so slowly. Perhaps I'm getting old!"
Indeed,
so leisurely was his pace that Bolt could have run his world record of
9.58 four times, or practically completed a 400 metres race — a fact not
lost on Miyazaki.
"I'm still a
beginner, you know," he said, grinning from ear to ear. "I'll have to
train harder. Training was going splendidly, so I had set myself a
target of 35 seconds. I can still go faster."
LIGHTNING POSE
"I
will say this: I'm proud of my health," added Miyazaki, the poster boy
for Japan's turbo-charged geriatrics in a country with one of the
world's highest life expectancies.
"The doctors gave me a medical examination a couple of days ago and I'm fit as a fiddle.
Hidekichi Miyazaki (back C), 105, runs with
other competitors over eighty years of age during a 100-metre-dash in
the Kyoto Masters Autumn Competiton in Kyoto, western Japan, on
September 23, 2015.PHOTO | AFP
"My
brain might not be the sharpest but physically I'm tip-top. I've never
had any health problems. The doctors are amazed by me. I can definitely
keep on running for another two or three years."
Dressed
in his trademark red, tight shorts hiked alarmingly high, Miyazaki got
off to a wobbly start before finding a gentle rhythm and trotting across
the finish line to loud cheers, greeted by his great-grandchildren
carrying bouquets.
Cheekily, he
celebrated by striking Bolt's famous "lightning" pose before being
presented with a certificate from Guinness officials.
Asked
about Bolt's latest heroics at last month's athletics world
championships in Beijing, Miyazaki screwed up his nose and said with a
chuckle: "He hasn't raced me yet!"
The
twinkle-toed Miyazaki, who holds the 100 metres world record for
centenarians at 29.83 seconds, insisted there was still time for a dream
race against the giant Jamaican.
Hidekichi Miyazaki (in red), 105, reacts after
running with other competitors over eighty years of age during a
100-metre-dash in the Kyoto Masters Autumn Competiton in Kyoto, western
Japan, on September 23, 2015. PHOTO | AFP
"I
would still love to compete against him," said Miyazaki, who loses
valuable seconds because he cannot hear the starter's gun go off.
"Two
or three years ago Bolt came to Japan and said he wanted to meet me.
There was a call about it but I was out and he left without meeting me. I
felt deeply sorry."
Miyazaki, who
was born in 1910 — the year Japan annexed Korea and when the Titanic was
still being built — only took up running in his early 90s and prepares
for races by taking a sneaky catnap.
WILLPOWER ALONE
Hidekichi Miyazaki (C), 105, is congratulated by
family members after running with other competitors over eighty years
of age during a 100-metre-dash in the Kyoto Masters Autumn Competiton in
Kyoto, western Japan, on September 23, 2015. Miyazaki was authorised as
the oldest sprinter who competed in a 100-metre-dash by the Guinness
World Records. PHOTO | AFP
He stands just 1.53 metres (five feet) tall and weighs in at 42 kilograms (92 pounds).
He
trains religiously by popping a kilogram weight into a rucksack and
going for daily walks around his local park in Kyoto, where he now
lives.
"It's all about willpower," Miyazaki said of his need for speed. "You have to keep going."
Japanese
television crews jostled as Miyazaki, a native of tea-growing Shizuoka
prefecture, arrived for his record tilt sporting dapper white slacks and
a Panama hat.
Hidekichi Miyazaki, 105, throws a shot put after
running with other competitors over eighty years of age during a
100-metre-dash in the Kyoto Masters Autumn Competiton in Kyoto, western
Japan, on September 23, 2015. PHOTO | AFP
Job
done on the track, the Japanese iron man proved he was a dab hand at
the shot put, tossing a best effort of 3.25 metres before calling it a
day.
"I can't think about retiring,"
said Miyazaki, whose next competition is next month's Japanese Masters
Championships. "I have to continue for a few more years, to show my
gratitude to my fans."
Hidekichi Miyazaki (C, in red), 105, speaks to
the press after running with other competitors over eighty years of age
during a 100-metre-dash in the Kyoto Masters Autumn Competiton in Kyoto,
western Japan, on September 23, 2015. PHOTO | AFP
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