This Jamaican-Japanese Tried To Chase Down Usain Bolt

Aska Cambridge of Japan (in pink uniform) tries to chase down Usain Bolt of Jamaica in the Men’s 4 x 100-m Relay Final on Day 14 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium on August 19, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

By NAN Sports Editor

News Americas, RIO, Brazil, Sat. Aug. 20, 2016: Look closely at this picture – at the man in the pink uniform behind Usain Bolt – and you will see the big moment Jamaican-born Japanese runner Aska Cambridge was hoping to have for himself, his team and his country.

The 23-year-old showed real heart, getting the stick from his teammates who helped run a technically flawless race and taking off running at top speed in the anchor leg with Bolt maybe a step behind him in the men’s 4×100 in Rio on Friday evening,. Aug. 19, 2016.

That lasted about four steps.

With 70 meters to go, however, it was over but that did not stop Cambridge from racing Bolt down going hard at the 29-year-old 100 and 200-m triple medalist as Bolt tried to close it down for the win. He did – at 37.27 – scoring gold again and reaching his goal of  triple, triple glory.

Cambridge’s run was, however, not in vain. The sprinter helped Japan set an Asian record to take the silver in 37.60, holding off the third-place Americans by just 0.02. Of course the US was later DQed out.

There is no denying the raw talent of Cambridge. Watch for this young man who is just getting started on the world’s sprinting stage.

See more on Cambridge here.