71-year-old man breaks national record in 100-meter race

If you are 71 years old, how fast could you run a 100-meter race? Jin Hui from Qingdao, East China's Shandong Province, gave his answer— 13.97 seconds.

Jin was born in 1953 and was a worker at a steel mill. As a lifelong sports enthusiast, Jin once practiced martial arts, wrestling, and boxing, and now plays for a local senior soccer team.

He first tried sprinting in 2023, encouraged by his friends. To his surprise, his self-timed sprints ranked him among the top in his age group in China, which gives him the confidence to participate in all kinds of competitions. Since last year, he has won enough medals to fill a small box.

Jin said he feels a great sense of fulfillment whenever he’s racing on the track with people cheering for him from the stands.

“When I was just retired, I suffered a bit of depression then, considering myself to be a worthless man. But now I have become a role model for many young people, giving me a renewed sense of purpose and self-esteem,” Jin said.

Jin has become an influencer on social media platforms. His videos of participating in sprinting competitions and daily training have garnered significant attention and likes. Now, many young people join Jin in his daily workouts, and Jin guides them in improving their running techniques. 

Jin said that he practiced sprinting and participated in competitions not for fame, instead, he hopes that his experience will inspire others to value physical exercise and improve their health.