Seeing himself as an underdog entering most competitions, Chayut does not see his size as a disadvantage, regularly outshining other athletes in a talented Thai track and field squad
PHOTO: SYUHAINI AZLIN, SPORTPLUS.SG
Born in the southern city of Surat Thani in Thailand, sprinting sensation Chayut Khongprasit has come on in leaps and bounds since he first burst onto the global athletics scene in 2015.
His timing of 20.71 seconds in December 2019 earned him the men's 200m SEA Games gold medal, an achievement that left an indelible mark on the Games held in Clark, Philippines, as well as fans all across Southeast Asia.
And while he was unable to defend his men's individual 200m SEA Games title in Hanoi, Vietnam this May, he clocked a respectable 20.77 seconds to clinch bronze before joining hands with his teammates Sora-at Dabbang, Siripol Phanpae and Puripol Boonson in the men's 4x100m to record a time of 38.58 seconds and seal the relay gold in SEA Games record time.
PHOTO: SYUHAINI AZLIN, SPORTPLUS.SG
A firm believer of living in the present moment, Chayut has looked beyond the disappointments in his young career and is constantly working towards improving his performances as he visualises his personal bests in each competition.
PHOTO: SYUHAINI AZLIN, SPORTPLUS.SG
Setting small achievable goals, the 23 year-old attacks each training session with great tenacity, and carries a mindset that the greatest reward at the end of each training session is the rest he gets to enjoy.
Seeing himself as an underdog entering most competitions, Chayut does not see his size as a disadvantage, regularly outshining other athletes in a talented Thai track and field squad.
PHOTO: SYUHAINI AZLIN, SPORTPLUS.SG
For him, to live uplifted means to enjoy the present and to remain positive - an attitude he carries with him every step of the way that has helped him overcome numerous career challenges and setbacks: including a serious injury in 2017 that left him sidelined for six months, as well as a personal career low when his dropping of the baton in Thailand's World Track and Field Championships in Italy caused his team to be disqualified.
PHOTO: SYUHAINI AZLIN, SPORTPLUS.SG
Ever grateful, Chayut acknowledges that sport has changed his life greatly, and offered him an avenue in which to support his family financially while giving him opportunities to travel and see the world, a life which the little boy in him who grew up in Surat Thani could only have dreamed of.
He hopes his story will blaze a trail for other young athletes to uplift their dreams and crush their goals.