Engaging in the pursuit of athletic endeavors after one's prime on the football pitch or the basketball court might appear somewhat incongruous. Yet, the realm of running presents a different narrative.  

In truth, many who embraced running later in life have transcended expectations and attained remarkable feats that others merely fantasize about. They have amassed an impressive collection of accolades and kindled inspiration within the hearts of fellow runners worldwide. 

He Jie stands as a radiant exemplar of this exceptional breed. 

The Chinese runner, who only took up running at the age of 16, etched his name into the Asian Games history books on Thursday by clinching the men's marathon title. This extraordinary accomplishment bears immense significance, as it stands as China's first-ever triumph in this prestigious event at the Games.

In the initial stages of the much-anticipated race, He found himself in a fiercely contested battle with Han Ilryong, his formidable counterpart from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. However, exhibiting admirable resilience and tenacity, he gradually surged ahead and propelled himself across the finish line with a time of 2 hours, 13 minutes and 2 seconds. 

"Many home fans are tuning in to watch this race, and I feel compelled to showcase the indomitable spirit of the Chinese people," beamed He. "The aspiration of the Chinese marathon is to surpass previous records and set new ones. I aim to demonstrate that Chinese marathon running is not lacking in any way."

'Barefoot' wunderkind 

He was born in an ordinary family in Pingluo County, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, and it was evident from a young age that he possessed extraordinary sporting talent. However, it wasn't until 2014 that he dedicated himself to professional running training. 

His splash into the spotlight came at the age of 15 when he participated in a 5,000m race. Despite having his running shoes inadvertently knocked off in the second lap, he fearlessly continued to run the remaining 10 laps barefoot, enduring the pain and ultimately securing the silver medal. 

His then coach had to carry him off the track after the exhausting race. Incredibly, just one day later, with his foot injury still unhealed, He once again stood at the starting line for the 10,000m race, securing yet another silver medal.

Though He began his running training later than some and not hold a distinct advantage in terms of raw speed, his sensational aerobic capacity and unwavering determination set him apart. It was in 2017 that He made the official switch to marathon training, finding a stage that truly aligned with his abilities.

Meteoric rise 

In the 2018 Changchun Marathon, He made his marathon debut and achieved an astonishing time of 2 hours and 28 minutes. However, that was just the beginning of his journey. Fast forward to 2021, at the Xuzhou Marathon, he managed to shave off an impressive 3 minutes from his personal best and also set a new record for the Ningxia Marathon.  

Then, in March this year, at the Wuxi Marathon, He left the nation in awe as he crossed the finish line in a stunning time of 2 hours, 7 minutes and 30 seconds, breaking a national record that had remained untouched for 16 years.

In the perspective of He's coach, Xiao Li, the thrilling breakthrough he achieved in Hangzhou can be attributed to his self-discipline and tenacity. 

"He embodies the traits of an outstanding athlete, possessing an unyielding spirit and an unwavering determination," Xiao observed. "Among all the athletes I have worked with, he has been the most proactive in crafting training plans and has shown an amazing ability to endure high-volume training sessions." 

He, with an eternal desire for progress, is not content with the honors he has achieved thus far. "The Asian Games is merely a stepping stone," he declared. "I firmly believe that the future holds even greater prospects!"