Ten seconds over 100 meters with 16 years! Sorato Shimizu has amazed the world athletics world with a U18 world record. At the World Cup in Tokyo, the young Japanese is nominated for the hosts’ sprint relay.
An explosive start and then Sorato Shimizu lights the turbo, leaves the competition far behind with playful ease. 10.00 seconds (with regular wind conditions of +1.7) glow on the scoreboard when the young Japanese dashes over the finish line in the yellow jersey.
U18 world record at the age of 16
Huge jubilee, air jumps and a small Ronaldo jubilee-Shimizu can hardly believe what he succeeded in at the school championships in Hiroshima on this July 27, 2025: U18 world record and the best time that a Japanese ever run over 100 meters. It was not quite enough for a national record. Shimizu remained five hundredths of a second behind Ryota Yamagata (9.95 seconds).
For comparison: The German record is 9.99 seconds, set up by Owen at the German Championships 2024 in Braunschweig – at the age of 23.
Gold at U18-Asia championships
Shimizu’s life, which had won gold in April at the U18 Asia Championships (10.38 seconds), has been different since this run. All large Japanese media reported on the teenager from Kanazawa in the west of the country. At the beginning of September there was a nomination for the 4×100 meter relay at the home World Cup.
I look forward to competing against the best in the world, but I’m also a little afraid because they are really very strong.
“He has no experience in the competition against world-class sprinter, but we rely on his X factor,” said the head of the Japanese delegation, Yamazaki Kazuhiko.
On Saturday (1:25 p.m.), if the prelets are on the schedule, it could be even louder than in the Tokyo nation Stadium, Shimizu should belong to the Japanese quartet.
Autoimmune disease Since the age of twelve
“I look forward to competing against the best in the world, but I’m also a little afraid because they are really very strong,” said the 16-year-old, who has suffered from the rare autoimmune disease Myasthenia Gravis since he was age.
It is characterized by muscle weakness because the signal transmission between nerve and muscles is disturbed. With medication, Shimizu can check the symptoms and continue to suffer from his sprint passion.
“He could run fast as a child”
The slim body of the teenager, which is only 1.64 meters tall and 56 kilograms, hardly suggests where it comes from. “He could run fast as a child. And before he could walk, his legs were incredibly strong,” said his father Masao, who once took fourth place in the high jump at the national championships.
Mother Emi used to ran the 100 meters of hurdles and the older sister Yuna 400 meters hurdles. In addition to the obviously innate talent, Sorato Shimizus success recipe is an almost perfect coordination between the upper and lower body.
Sorato Shimizus success recipe is an almost perfect coordination between the upper and lower body.
Goals: under 10 seconds and the games in LA
The World Cup becomes a highlight in its still young career, but should only be the beginning for Japan’s great sprint hope.
“Next year I would like to run under ten seconds and take part in the Los Angeles Olympic Games in three years,” said the teenager, whose name Sorato （空跳） is composed of the Japanese characters for heaven and jumping.
“Jump with your feet into the sky,” was the parents’ wish for their son. And that lives up to his name as a sprinter.