Hidekichi Miyazaki. Photo: RocketNews24
As a tribute to the Respect for the Aged Day in Japan, RocketNews24 featured a totally unique athlete – a sprinter who is still running at the age of 102.
Hidekichi Miyazaki, a resident of Kyoto, is very much alive and kicking at an age that most people would deem themselves lucky to reach.
To add to that, this sports buff is still breaking sprint records in the 100-meter dash, and would in the near future like to take on Usain Bolt, the fastest man alive.
Miyazaki was not a dedicated athlete in his youthful days, although he did dabble in track and field in his school days.
At 20, he was sidetracked in life with a bout with tuberculosis, but he survived that. He then worked for 32 years in an agricultural co-operative and moved to Kyoto after retiring.
At his age, he wanted something to do – so he went on to pick up running as a hobby. But then he saw a TV feature of a woman in her 90s competing in shotput.
That became a spark that lit his determination to become an athlete at his age.
“When I saw that, I thought, ‘This is something you can enjoy even if you are alone,’” Miyazaki said.
At a recent race event in Kyoto, he ran in the over-90s race by himself as there was no one to compete with, but that doesn’t dampen his enthusiasm one bit, nor his confidence it seems. After running the Kyoto event, he felt spry enough to say that he would like to take on Usain Bolt in a race. – RocketNews24
For more Usain Bolt news, click here.
For more breaking sporting news and views, visit MySport24 on Twitter and Facebook.
Related articles
