Jamaican record-breaker Usain Bolt's shoes sprinted into the shops in Japan Friday as German sportswear maker Puma began selling a limited-edition version of his spikes. A day after Bolt stormed to his second world title in Berlin, the bright orange "Puma Street Yaam" shoes - a name apparently inspired by the yam vegetable he ate as a child - were flying off the shelves in Japan.
The limited edition shoes went on sale here three days ahead of their global launch, and dozens of pairs were sold about an hour after shops had opened, said Puma Japan spokesman Takayuki Goto. "Some customers bought the shoes believing that they would bring a good omen and that - because Bolt became the number one sprinter - youngsters would also make their future dreams come true," he said.
Bolt wore Puma spikes when he won the world 100m and 200m titles at the World Athletics Championships in record times this week. The "Puma Street Yaam" shoes, which bear Bolt's signature, are priced at 9,975 yen (around 106 dollars) a pair.