Puripol Boonson made history on the afternoon of 11/12 at the SEA Games 33 men's 100m qualifiers at Suphachalasai Stadium, Bangkok, achieving a time of 9.94 seconds with a wind assistance of 0.7 m/second. The 19-year-old sprinter shattered the SEA Games record of 10.17 seconds, which had stood since 2009, and broke his own Thai national record of 10.06 seconds set at ASIAD 2023.

Puripol clocked 9.94 seconds in the men's 100m qualifying heat.

His 9.94-second performance places Puripol among a rare group of Asian sprinters to break the 10-second barrier. This elite group includes names like Su Bingtian (China, 9.83 seconds) and Japanese athletes Ryota Yamagata (9.95 seconds), Chani Brown Abdul Hakim (9.97 seconds), Kiryu Yoshihide, and Yuki Koike (both 9.98 seconds).

Puripol expressed being "speechless with joy" upon realizing he had broken the 10-second mark. He attributed his significant improvement to the Thai Athletics Federation's decision to bring in American coach Gentry Bradley for direct support.

"We trained together for three to four months," Puripol told Khaosod. "The coach is very strict; sometimes I wanted to give up, but he always motivated me. The new exercises, the new starting techniques, everything helped me become stronger."

Puripol even achieved an unofficial 9.44 seconds in a practice session, timed manually. He stated, "Coach Bradley helped me improve my start, the initial 60 meters, and my mid-race speed. These are crucial factors for running under 10 seconds."

Puripol Boonson celebrates his SEA Games 33 100m gold medal with coach Gentry Bradley. Photo: Khaosod

In the final later that evening, Puripol ran a slightly slower time but still secured the gold medal with 10 seconds. This marks his second SEA Games gold, following his 10.40-second performance at SEA Games 31 in Hanoi. He missed the most recent SEA Games in Cambodia due to injury, where his compatriot Soraoat Dabbang won gold with 10.37 seconds.

Puripol admitted to feeling psychological pressure in the final, which contributed to his slower time. However, his main goal remained winning the gold medal and maintaining consistent performance. "I don't overthink, I don't worry. I just focus on doing my best," he emphasized.

When asked who he wanted to thank, Puripol burst into tears, pausing the interview for a few seconds. He thanked his mother, his family, and all the coaches from his elementary school days to his time with the national team. He also shared that he had prayed at the Ganesha temple in Huai Khwang, Bangkok, before the competition, wishing to perform to his full potential, "but not asking for anything."

Puripol demonstrated strong form leading up to SEA Games 33. In 2025, he earned a silver medal in the 100m and a silver in the 4x100m relay at the Asian Championships in Gumi. He also secured a silver medal in the 100m at the World University Games and reached the semifinals of the World Championships in Tokyo with a time of 10.17 seconds.

According to Puripol, the American coach significantly improved his starting ability...

...and his acceleration in the middle of the 100m race.

These decisive factors helped Puripol set a new Southeast Asian record of 9.94 seconds at SEA Games 33. Photo: Duc Dong

The 19-year-old sprinter acknowledged that 2025 was a challenging year, requiring him to constantly face pressure while competing at the World Championships, an event that brings together many stronger rivals. "I'm just a small kid trying my best. Sometimes I'm lazy, sometimes I'm discouraged, but I always overcome it," he said.

After winning the 100m gold, Puripol is set to compete in two other events: the 200m on 13/12 and the 4x100m relay on 15/12. "I will try my best to perform well. I hope everyone continues to cheer," he stated.

Born in 2006, Puripol is considered one of Asia's fastest-improving young sprinters, possessing great potential to become a leading figure in short-distance running in the coming years.

He rose to prominence at SEA Games 2021 in Hanoi, where he achieved a hat-trick of gold medals in the 100m, 200m, and 4x100m relay events. In 2022, Puripol consistently improved his personal bests. Notably, his 20.19-second run in Almaty set Asian U18 and U20 records, making him the third-fastest junior athlete globally, surpassed only by Erriyon Knighton and Usain Bolt in their teenage years.

Returning from injury in 2023, Puripol quickly secured a gold medal in the 4x100m relay at the Asian Championships, setting both a national and championship record of 38.55 seconds. At ASIAD 2022 in Hangzhou, he earned a silver medal in the 100m with 10.02 seconds.

Puripol celebrates after setting the men's 100m record on the Suphachalasai track, Bangkok, on the afternoon of 11/12. Photo: Duc Dong

The year 2024 marked a significant step forward as Puripol qualified for the Paris Olympics in the 100m and was one of two athletes chosen to carry the flag for the Thai delegation. At those Olympic Games, he reached the semifinals, clocking 10.14 seconds. Later that year, Puripol made history by becoming the first Thai athlete to win a medal at the U20 World Championships, securing a silver in the 100m (10.22 seconds) and a bronze in the 4x100m relay with a U20 national record of 39.39 seconds.

Hong Duy (via Khaosod)