Dai Tamesue of Japan celebrates winning bronze in the 400m Hurdles (© Getty Images)
Helsinki, FinlandDai Tamesue, who won bronze in Edmonton 2001, has won another World bronze medal in the same event, making him only the third Japanese athlete in history to become a double medallist in the history of the World Championships.
“After winning a bronze in Edmonton, everyone including myself expected performances worthy of a bronze medallist, and for a few years after Edmonton, there were times when I felt little uncomfortable. However, I came to realize that this is a life of an elite athlete, and since last year, I was able to accept it as such. So this year, I was able to enjoy the competitions without being too concerned about winning a medal. I think such an attitude helps,” said Tamesue.
Think big, you will run big
Describing Tamesue, Bershawn Jackson, the gold medallist at 400mH, said, “Age and size does not matter. It is all about the heart. If you think small, you will run small, but if you think big, you will run big. Like myself, he has a big heart. He is a great athlete and will be around lot more years to come.” Tamesue is only 170cm tall, making him a smallest world class hurdler, but his first name ‘Dai’ means big.
After Edmonton, it was not a smooth sailing for Tamesue. In order to move up to another level, he thought hard and long and tried new things. However, Tamesue only finished third in the 2002 Asian Games, and also failed to make the final in both the 2003 Worlds and 2004 Olympics. He left comfortable life of a corporate supported athlete and become a truly professional athlete, supporting himself with sponsorship and race earnings.
“After the semi, I tried to imagine the race scenario in which I could win. If storm hit the stadium and programme was delayed and the younger athletes became jittery, it will be best for me.” The day of the final could not be better for him. “I thought a miracle might happen. But then I thought it over again. A miracle does not happen I must make it happen. It only happens to those who are prepared.”
A few broken bones
Tamesue literally dived for the finish line. “I thought about the finish beforehand and concluded that diving for the finish was the best,” said Tamesue. “The worst that could happen to me is a few broken bones. I thought that is acceptable.” He drew the laughs. He was not sure of his finishing position immediately after the finish. “On the home-straight, I saw runners inside of me, so I went after them.”
Tamesue gave his Edmonton medal to his mother and promised to his father that he will get another one for him. He kept his promise, but his father is no longer with him, having lost his battle against a cancer.
“A medal in Osaka (2007) will have a totally different meaning from those from other championships. It will be an opportunity for track and field, not just Marathon to become a major sport in Japan. I think all the athletes think in similar line,” concluded Tamesue.
Ken Nakamura for the IAAF
