Who is Su Bingtian, China’s Fastest Man?

Chinese sprinter Su Bingtian is riding the momentum of two formidable performances last year that effectively established him as one of the fastest — if not the fastest — Asian sprinters of all time.

The 29-year-old from Guangdong is undeniably entering his prime, having broken the Asian 60 meter dash record and tied the Asian 100 meter dash record early last year. The year of the pig has also proved auspicious for him – he’s taken home three consecutive victories in the past week, and has already clocked in the world’s fastest 60 meter dash for the 2019 indoor season. Tokyo 2020 contender, anyone?

An Olympic veteran, Su raced in both the 100 meter dash and 4×100 meter relay at the London and Rio de Janeiro Games. His relay team placed fourth in Rio, narrowly missing out on a medal, and Su didn’t progress to the 100 meter finals either time. But that was London, and that was Rio.

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Since 2016, Su has pocketed a time in the 100 meter dash that places him right on the edge of being a big boy contender at Tokyo. The time, 9.91 seconds, approaches a threshold which, if broken, puts him in reach of an Olympic medal, or even among the all-time best records in history.

His coach Randy Huntington thinks it’s possible. In fact, the best time Huntington believes Su is capable of – a 9.78 – would be the third best of all time. Perhaps a biased take coming from a doting coach, you might say, but the speculation is worthy of attention nonetheless.

Huntington has also pointed out that Su ran his 9.91 without custom-made footwear. Coach Huntington, if all Su needs to run that 9.78 in Tokyo is new Nikes, please make that happen.