IAAF chief backs Su to fill void left by Bolt
Su Bingtian鈥檚 Asian Games gold in the 100 meters came as little surprise to many, including athletics boss Sebastian Coe, long an admirer of the pint-sized Chinese sprinter.
The 28-year-old streaked to victory in a competition record of 9.92 seconds in Jakarta at the weekend, missing the continental record by the tiniest of fractions.
Su edged out Nigeria-born Qatari Tosin Ogunode 鈥 younger brother of Femi Ogunode, with whom the Chinese star shares the continental best of 9.91 鈥 on a night when six African-born athletes bagged six track and field golds at Asia鈥檚 showcase sports event.
Ryota Yamagata 鈥 part of the 4x100m Japan team that took silver behind Usain Bolt鈥檚 Jamaica at the 2016 Rio Olympics, took bronze, underlining Coe鈥檚 confidence in the future of Asian sprinting.
鈥淵ou could argue Japan and China are two of the most improved athletics nations over the last six or seven years,鈥 the Briton said.
鈥淔or me it鈥檚 very clear 鈥 they鈥檙e making very good progress.
鈥淚f we鈥檇 been sitting here a decade ago, talking about potential here for a China athlete to run 9.8, you鈥檇 have probably taken quite long odds on that.鈥
Coe, president of track and field鈥檚 governing IAAF, pointed to China鈥檚 willingness to embrace overseas coaches after years of fostering suspicion of state-sponsored doping.
Su is coached by American coach Randy Huntington, while swim star Sun Yang鈥檚 partnership with Australian Denis Cotterell has helped turn him into a world-beater.
鈥淚f you look at the Chinese federation, they鈥檝e been quite global,鈥 said Coe.
鈥淭hey鈥檝e recognized there are gaps in their own coaching structures and said 鈥榟ey, let鈥檚 bring that talent to the table.鈥
鈥淚t鈥檚 a pragmatic approach. There鈥檚 been a greater clarity around the importance of coaching.鈥
Legend鈥檚 retirement
Coe is aware of the massive void left by athletics mega-star Bolt after the Jamaican legend鈥檚 retirement last year. But he also wants athletes to be personalities who can connect with fans.
鈥淚鈥檓 a boxing fan,鈥 said Coe, a twice an Olympic 1,500m champion.
鈥淚f we鈥檇 been sitting in the 70s, you鈥檇 probably be saying to me what on earth are we going to be doing after Muhammad Ali?
鈥淏ut actually, Floyd Mayweather, Marvin Hagler and Thomas, Hearns come along.
鈥淒o they suddenly replace Muhammad Ali? No. Should we suddenly expect these athletes to replace him? No.
鈥淏ecause Usain is not simply thought about at the status that he鈥檚 thought about because he鈥檚 got a sack full of world records and he鈥檚 got a clutch of Olympic titles.
鈥淚t鈥檚 actually because he鈥檚 a personality. It鈥檚 performance plus personality. We鈥檝e got to help the athletes tell their stories,鈥 the Briton added.
Su himself is a superstar in China, although he has some way to achieve the celebrity that pin-up Liu Xiang achieved after winning 110m hurdles gold at the 2004 Athens Olympics.
鈥淭here was more pressure here than at a world championships,鈥 said Su, swallowed by a scrum of state media after his win.
鈥淓verybody expected me to win so I kept telling myself to stay calm. I just found a way. It鈥檚 a massive victory for me.鈥
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