Japanese 16-year-old Sorato Shimizu has become sprinting’s latest teenage sensation after setting a new 100m under-18 world record.
The rapid youngster made history after he crossed the finish line in a staggering 10.00 seconds at Japan’s Inter High School athletics meeting in Hiroshima on Saturday.
Sorato Shimizu was overjoyed after making under-18 100m history
Sorato Shimizu was overjoyed after making under-18 100m history
In doing so, Shimizu smashed the previous world’s best for his age group, jointly held by American Christian Miller, and Thai ace Puripol Boonson.
The pair both ran 100m in 10.06 seconds in 2023, with Miller achieving the feat at the USA U20 Championships, and Boonson clocking the same speed at that year’s Asian Games.
Even more impressively for Shimizu, his 10-second flat time was faster than any effort recorded by Usain Bolt as a 20-year-old.
The fastest man alive, who still holds the overall 100m world record, boasted a personal best of 10.03 seconds at the age of 20.
One reason for this is because Bolt was primarily a 200m runner at this stage of his career.
But Shimizu certainly looks set to challenge some of the Jamaican star’s personal bests for years to come after his stunning exploits.
By clocking his record-breaking time, the starlet met the entry standard for the World Athletics Championships.
It also places him fifth all-time among Japanese athletes, while he also now holds his country’s high school record
The previous record of 10.01 seconds had stood for 12 years, having been set by Yoshihide Kiryu.
Footage of Shimizu’s historic moment shows him leaving all in his wake, as he won his race by a margin of nearly three tenths of a second, with the second placed athlete running 10.27 seconds.
Shimizu finished well clear of his closest competition
He wheeled away in celebration after realising his record-breaking time
He wheeled away in celebration after realising his record-breaking timeCredit:
After crossing the finish line, the youngster was immediately aware of his huge achievement
He could be seen jumping for joy with his arms outstretched in celebration, before his time flashed up on the timing screen.
Following his achievement, Shimuzu said: “I was determined to run under 10 seconds heading into the final.
“I’m happy to have set a high school record. I’d like to get a taste of [the World Championships] if I can make it.”
Shimizu’s arrival on the scene also sees the competition to become sprinting’s next big thing hot up.
Australian teenager Gout Gout has stolen the show over the past year after smashing a number of national records whilst still aged just 16.
Gout Gout also looks set for sprinting stardom after some impressive times
Gout Gout also looks set for sprinting stardom after some impressive timesCredit: Getty
Gout set a new Australian 200m record in June, having already smashed the country’s previous 56-year best back in December.
He also holds the under-18 and under-20 records for Australia and Oceania in the 100m and 200m.
But even the Aussie’s 100m best of 10.17 seconds is no match for Shimizu, who may well now be targeting a spot at the World Championship in September.
With this year’s event taking place on home soil in Tokyo, a 100m time of 10 seconds is the minimum that World Athletics requires to qualify.
The Japan Association of Athletics Federations have not shared its selection criteria as Shimizu did not compete in their National Championships.
However, there are currently only two Japanese sprinters classified in the 100m, only one of them has run a sub-10 second time.
Abdul Hakim Sani Brown boasts a 9.96 second personal best, though his current season’s best stands at 10.31.
Spanish outlet Marca reports that despite his amazing performances at youth level, Shimizu is unlikely to make the Japanese 4x100m relay team, whose current quartet are said to be well-established.
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