Hidekichi Miyazaki‘s 100m world record for ages 100 and over was broken by an American on Sunday. The Japanese man’s response was to set a new record Wednesday.
Miyazaki ran a 100m in 42.22 seconds, a Guinness World Record for ages 105 and older as there had been no previous mark, according to Agence France-Presse, which reported Miyazaki turned 105 on Tuesday.
Here’s race video from Kyodo News.
“I’m not happy with the time,” Miyazaki said, according to AFP, adding that his goal was 35 seconds. “I started shedding tears during the race because I was going so slowly. Perhaps I’m getting old!”
His time was 32.64 seconds slower than Usain Bolt‘s all-ages world record. In 2013, Miyazaki reportedly ran 38.35 over 100m and challenged Bolt to a race. Miyazaki’s over-100 world record for 100m was 29.83 seconds. On Wednesday, Miyazaki stretched into Bolt’s “To Di World” pose next to a scoreboard showing his time and a Guinness World Record certificate.
“Two or three years ago, Bolt came to Japan and said he wanted to meet me,” Miyazaki said, according to AFP. “There was a call about it, but I was out and he left without meeting me. I felt deeply sorry.”
Miyazaki’s new record came three days after American Don Pellmann snatched the Japanese’s 100-and-older 100m world record.
Pellmann, who set five records in one day at the San Diego Senior Olympics, ran his 100m in 26.99 seconds (video here). Pellmann also became the first centenarian to clear the bar in a high jump (.90 meters, just shy of three feet), in addition to discus, long jump and shot put records.
Here’s an Associated Press video report on Miyazaki from when he was a spry 103.
