DHAKA: A 103-year-old Japanese sprinter has challenged world’s fastest man Usain Bolt. 

Hidekichi Miyazaki — who holds the 100 meters world record for centenarians at 29.83 seconds and is dubbed ‘Golden Bolt’ after the Jamaican flyer — plans to wait another five years for his dream race and was happy to reveal his secret weapon: his daughter’s tangerine jam.

“I’d love to race Bolt,” the wispy-haired Miyazaki said in an interview after tottering over the line with a joyful whoop at a recent Japan Masters Athletics competition in Kyoto.

“I’m keeping the dream alive. I try to stay in top shape and stay disciplined and healthy. That’s important for everyone — even Usain Bolt.”

Born in 1910 — the year Japan annexed Korea and when the Titanic was still under construction — the pint-sized Miyazaki offered some dietary tips to Bolt, whose world record is 9.58 seconds.

“My body is small so I take care of what I eat,” said Miyazaki, who stands just 1.53 meters tall and weighs in at 42 kilograms (92 pounds).

In a country with one of the world’s highest life expectancies, Miyazaki is the poster boy for Japan’s turbo-charged geriatrics.

Some 6,000 pensioners are registered at the Masters federation which hosts more than 40 track and field meetings every year across the nation.

Source: arabnews.com

BDST: 1711 HRS, AUG 31, 2014