Koji, Shingo, Tamesue. Fastest Asian around!

Many of you know that I’m a running freak. I train crazily on a daily basis like an idiot at times, and I’m still waiting for my breakthrough. It can be tough at times, when you see some of the juniors are faster, stronger than you or the hardest part, when you get injured and will be out of action.

What kept me going is my ‘self-belief’. The pats and encouragement on the back is appreciated but solely I run for me, and no one else. At times when I’m ‘down’, I’ll look through my YouTube Running Videos I’ve compiled for inspiration and some ‘lift me up’ moments.

Here’s a few Asian that have achieved great result on the world stage. Let me introduce you to some of them. Well most of them are Japanese. The athletes are not bulky nor as big as the ‘ang moh’ or blacks, but they can still run fast! So it gives a small frame, Asian athletes like me, some hope

Shingo Suetsugu

He was born June 2, 1980, and is a well known Japanese sprinter. Suetsugu won a bronze medal in the 200 metres event at the 2003 IAAF World Championships in a time of 20.38 seconds. The same year he set an Asian record with 20.03 seconds. Participating in the 2004 Summer Olympics, he reached the second-round in the 100 metres. Below is his video clip from that World Champ in 2003. Inspiring!

Dai Tamesue

He was born May 3, 1978. A Japanese athlete, competing mainly in 400m hurdles but also 400m. Tamesue won a bronze medal at the 2001 World Championships in Edmonton, setting a new personal best of 47.89s which still stands, and won another bronze medal at the 2002 Asian Games. He finished third again at the 2005 World Championships in Athletics with 48.10s. Below is his clip of that 2005 World Champ

Koji Ito

Born January 29, 1970, came from Kobe) is a ‘retired’ former Japanese track and field sprinter who, in winning the Asian Games 100m crown in 1998 (Bangkok) became only the second athlete of non-West African descent to clock a legal and recognizable (+1.9 wind; not at high altitude) time of 10.00 seconds, during a semi-final heat!! Ito also clocked a personal best of 20.16s in the 200m 1998 at Kumamoto, Japan. Ito never again matched the form of his high-water-mark 1998 season and retired in 2002. Shingo, the athlete I mentioned above is his apparent heir. Below is his video clip in 1998 when he clocked 10.10s in the 100m!

And the below video clip, shows Koji Ito in a TV show explaining the mechanics of running. Observe how he explains in running you need to run FORWARD, not up or side. Also he stress on the importance of the hips to bring your body forward.

I hope you get a small glimpse of my ‘life’, and the idols I look up to. Great videos. I live for such moment!

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