Most of us can't imagine living to 105, let alone competing in races. But for 105-year-old Hidekichi Miyazaki, breaking world records is no big deal.
The Japanese centenarian became Guinness World Records oldest competitive sprinter Wednesday after running the 100-meter dash at the Kyoto Masters Athletic Autumn Competition. Miyazaki finished the run in a respectable 42.22 seconds but wasn't impressed by his performance.
"Today my target was 35 seconds ... I shed tears of disappointment because I was not in good condition. I am not satisfied with today's time. But I am satisfied that I could cross finish line," he said after the race, according to Guinness.
He's sometimes called "Golden Bolt" after Usain Bolt, currently the world's fastest man, for cheekily copying the Jamaican runner's trademark pose.
What's more astonishing than his competitive spirit and physical agility is that he only began participating in track and field in his 90s. After retiring, Miyazaki spent his free time practicing calligraphy and playing chess. But after his friends started passing away, he says he needed a hobby he could do by himself.
So ever since then, the spritely centenarian has been training, running every day and even practicing the shot put.
It seems to have done wonders for his health. "The doctors gave me a medical examination a couple of days ago and I'm fit as a fiddle," he told reporters. "I've never had any health problems. The doctors are amazed by me. I can definitely keep on running for another two or three years."
Other senior athletes have inspired those of us at Huff/Post50 over the years as well, like 100-year-old Fred Winter, who continues to win medals at the National Senior Games, and 95-year-old Charles Eugster, who still gulps protein shakes and breaks sprinting records.
Amazing.
Also on HuffPost:
