At 45, Sprinting Legend Shingo Suetsugu Embraces the Challenge of the World Athletics Championships

On May 4, after finishing his first race of the season (100m) in Sano City, Tochigi Prefecture, Shingo Suetsugu (45) commented, “So slow!”

“I was aiming for 10.5 seconds, but ended up with 10.86. It felt like I was running in sixth gear on a bike — heavy gear. But if I can increase my cadence from here, I feel my running level will improve.”

Few would be surprised that this top runner, who won Japan’s first medal in a sprint event (3rd place in the men’s 200m at the 2003 World Championships more than 20 years ago), is still active.

However, Suetsugu has never once mentioned retirement.

In fact, last November in Tokyo, he declared his challenge for this summer’s World Championships (starting September 13). His second race of the season, held on May 17, was the “Earth Grand Prix” he hosted himself. He clocked 10.82 seconds and confessed that he had been suffering from left foot bunion pain.

“It hurt when I pushed off the ground strongly, and until the day before the race, I could only wear sandals. But it’s not a muscle tear or anything severe, so I have the skills to cover for this kind of injury.

The proof is that my time barely changed from the first race. That’s where the potential lies — I feel that with some trigger or chance, I can suddenly surpass the qualifying time of 10.34 seconds for the Japanese Championships, which grants entry to the World Championships.”

Challenging for the first time for myself

Shingo Suetsugu, who has faced various challenges until now, also said, “This is the first time I’m challenging myself for myself.”

“When I was in my 20s, I ran with only the goal of winning on the world stage. Whether it was for the country or for the company, I had various responsibilities that made me have no choice but to do so. As a result, I won medals at the World Championships and the Olympics.

However, if you ask whether I felt any benefit or reward from that, the answer is no, and I have no memory of being praised or affirmed for my career as an athlete.

At that time, I couldn’t fully come to terms with that situation. After the Beijing Olympics, I had to distance myself from track and field. My hands shook, I became unable to drive, and there was a time I seriously thought I was heading towards death. Of course, I’m proud of winning medals, but life became hard.

Now, results come second; I don’t care what anyone says, and I strongly want to enjoy this challenge.”

In 2018, he founded “Eagle Run,” a community that connects people through running without focusing on winning or losing. He runs running classes and has been active as a professional runner. The fierce, sharp-eyed runner who once intimidated others now looks somewhat cheerful.

“On race day, I feel excited, but at the same time, I sometimes wonder, ‘How long will I keep doing this?’ Sometimes I even ask myself, ‘Why did I say I’d challenge the World Championships?’ (laughs).

But I think I’ll understand the answer to that why? after I finish running.”

The June 5th issue of FRIDAY (June 20th edition) and the paid version FRIDAY GOLD feature a detailed report on Suetsugu’s mindset as he trains for the July Japan Championships and the September World Championships, as well as his thoughts about running.

For more details and multiple photos, see here↓

From the June 20, 2025 issue of “FRIDAY”