Puripol garnered significant attention on social media, not only for his athletic achievements but also for speculation linking him with Chen, China's 17-year-old sprint sensation. Many fans were captivated by images of the two young athletes at ASIAD 2026 and eagerly "shipped" them, hoping they would become a couple in real life.

However, after securing a silver medal in his final event, Puripol clarified their relationship. He asserted that they are merely colleagues in the athletics world and earnestly requested the online community to stop pairing them up.

"There are rumors pairing me with Chen Yujie. Please, everyone, don't do that; we are just friends. My girlfriend might be upset by this", Thailand's Khaosod newspaper quoted Puripol on 29/9.

Puripol appeared with Chen in a video at ASIAD 2026. *Photo: Khaosod*

Puripol, born in 2006, is considered a Thai athletics prodigy and one of Asia's top sprinters. He rose to prominence at the SEA Games 2021, winning three gold medals in the men's 100m, 200m, and 4x100m relay, before continuing to demonstrate his prowess at international competitions.

At ASIAD 2026, Puripol made headlines by winning the men's 100m with a time of 9.90 seconds. On 25/9, he twice broke the games record, becoming the first Southeast Asian athlete to run the 100m in under 10 seconds. This achievement placed him second on the list of fastest sprinters in Asian history, surpassed only by China's Su Bingtian, who clocked 9.83 seconds.

Thai athlete Puripol Boonson on the track during the men's 100m final at ASIAD 2026 in Nagoya, Japan on 25/9. *Photo: AP*

Two days later, Puripol secured another gold medal in the 200m with 19.88 seconds, matching the Asian record set by Xie Zhenye in 2019. He also became the first Southeast Asian to complete this distance in under 20 seconds.

Chen Yujie also stands out among the young talents at ASIAD 2026. Beyond her appealing and dynamic appearance, the sprinter, born in 2008, also impressed with her talent in her debut at the games.

In the women's 100m final on 25/9, Chen claimed a gold medal with 11.06 seconds, breaking a 24-year-old ASIAD record and improving her own Asian U20 record. She defeated defending champion Shanti Pereira of Singapore, who finished second with 11.21 seconds. Subsequently, Chen earned a silver medal in the 200m with 22.93 seconds, finishing behind Pereira (22.78 seconds).

In an interview after winning the 100m, Chen admitted to being so nervous during practice that her legs trembled, fearing a false start in her first ASIAD final. She considers the gold medal an early birthday gift before turning 18 years old later this year.