From Team Japan, Cambridge who?
The man putting him to work is more closely related to Bolt than one might think.
Jamaica-born Aska Cambridge started raising eyebrows in Rio, not least because he’s the only black athlete on the Japanese team.
He anchored his 4x100m relay team to victory ahead of Bolt-less favourites Jamaica in the qualifying heats.
Cambridge made it to the semis of the 100m earlier, qualifying from round one in the same heat as Canadian Andre De Grasse in 10.13s.
Cambridge, 23, was born to a Jamaican father and Japanese mother.
His father is said to be from Montega Bay where the mother was working with a tour company when they met.
Aska signifies “flying bird” in Japan, also a village 50km south of Osaka.
“I may have Jamaican blood but I was brought up in Japan and trained in Japan,” said Cambridge.
He spent six years playing football in primary school, acquiring the nickname “Japanese Henry”.
It was the striking comparison with former Arsenal forward Thierry Henry — his dark complexion and blistering pace over short distance — that got him the name.
He was advised to get into athletics when he was 16.
In 2014 he trained for a week in Jamaica at the same club Bolt does but didn’t meet his idol.
Two years later, Cambridge won the 100m final at the Japan Championships, qualifying for Rio in 10.16s.
Coach Yusuke Omae told Japan Times his running style is similar to that of former world-record holder Asafa Powell.
With a personal best of 10.10s in the 100m, we haven’t seen the last of Cambridge.
Japan will have youth and home support on their side at the 2020 Tokyo Games, with Iizuka Shota the eldest at 25 and Yoshihide Kiryu the youngest at 20.
World youth double sprint champion Abdul-Hakim Sani Brown, who missed the Rio Games with an injury, is 17.
“It was really, really fantastic and it’s so nice to be part of it. I’m proud,” Cambridge said of his Rio experience.
Even Bolt was impressed.
“Hats off to them. Their baton changes are good. I’m not shocked,” the sprint legend said.
Source : Malay Mail Online | All http://ift.tt/2bEWjuw
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