We Thais have loved athletics since the days of Anat Ratanapol, who at 1.63m tall ran a 10.1 in the 100-m dash in 1972 and was one of Asia's top sprinters through the 70s. Puripol Boonson, already 1.83m tall at 16 years old, is currently our biggest hope, but his best event may be the 200m rather than the 100m. In the half century between Anat and Puripol, many Thai track stars have been what we call "white elephants" - talented kids from rural, sometimes disadvantaged, backgrounds, some beginning their track career as barefoot runners because they could not afford proper footwear. In recent years investments have been made to groom young talents at local, regional and national levels. But IMHO a talent like Puripol is born rather than nurtured. They need nurturing of course, but you need to have the right genes to begin with.
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