Su Bingtian is now the only Asian to ever qualify for the 100m finals at the IAAF World Championships in Athletics. (Photo : Reuters)
Chinese athlete Su Bingtian made history after becoming the first-ever Asian-born to finish the men’s 100 meters in less than 10 seconds, clocking in at 9.99 seconds on May 30, 2015, at the International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) Diamond League held in Eugene, Oregon, USA.
American track and field athlete Tyson Gay completed the 100-meter dash in 9.88 seconds ahead of everyone. A few seconds behind him, fellow American sprinter Michael “Mike” Rodgers came in second, clocking in at 9.90 seconds.
The 25-year-old native of Guangdong Province said to Xinhua News Agency that he was “so proud” of his achievement and considered it a “huge boost.”
“I can write my name in history now and will work harder and run faster,” Su said.
Su’s third-place finish is his latest personal best in the 100 meters. He clocked in at 10.06 seconds on May 21, 2013, also in third place, at the 2013 IAFF World Challenge Beijing.
Su’s recent feat at the IAAF Diamond League is his second time to break a record. The first one happened only last year.
He and his teammates Zhang Peimeng and Xie Zhenye finished the men’s 4x100 relay in 37.99 seconds, the first Asians to do so in less than 38 seconds, at the 17th Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea. Japan previously held the record with the time of 38.03 seconds.
Prior to breaking the 10-second barrier, Su already participated in major local, regional and international sporting events where he proved his worth as an athlete.
Of the four gold medals won by Guangdong at the 11th National Games held in 2009 in Jinan, one of them was through the collective efforts of Su, Liang Jiahong, Wen Yongyi and Zheng Xiaodong. They composed Guangdong’s team for the men’s 4x100 relay where they clocked in at 39.22 seconds.
Su won all the three legs in the 2009 Asian Grand Prix held in Suzhou, Kunshan and Hong Kong. He was one of the 10 athletes to do so.
He represented China at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, where he clocked in at 10.28 at the semifinals of the men’s 100 meters. He also made it to the semifinals of the men’s 60 meters at the 2012 IAAF World Indoor Championships in Istanbul, Turkey.
After years of running, Su Bingtian made history in less than 10 seconds.
The next IAAF Diamond League will be held on June 4 in Rome, Italy.
