Toshinao Tomie (富江 利直, Tomie Toshinao; born 15 August 1910) was a Japanese middle-distance runner. He competed in the…Toshinao Tomie (富江 利直, Tomie Toshinao; born 15 August 1910) was a Japanese middle-distance runner. He competed in the men's 800 metres at the 1936 Summer Olympics.
Masayoshi Ochiai (3 June 1910 – December 1939) was a Japanese track and field athlete. He competed in the men's hammer…Masayoshi Ochiai (3 June 1910 – December 1939) was a Japanese track and field athlete. He competed in the men's hammer throw at the 1932 Summer Olympics. He was killed in action during World War II.
Shuhei Nishida (西田 修平, Nishida Shūhei; March 21, 1910 – April 13, 1997) was a Japanese Olympic athlete who competed…Shuhei Nishida (西田 修平, Nishida Shūhei; March 21, 1910 – April 13, 1997) was a Japanese Olympic athlete who competed mainly in the pole vault. Nishida was born in what is now part of Nachikatsuura, Wakayama Prefecture, Japan. He was a student of the Engineering Department at Waseda University, when selected as a member of the Japanese Olympic team for the 1932 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, where he won the silver medal in the pole vault event. After graduation from Waseda University, he obtained a job at Hitachi. He subsequently participated in the 1936 Summer Olympics held in Berlin, Germany where he repeated his performance winning a second silver medal in the same event tying with his friend and teammate Sueo Oe. When the two declined to compete against each other to decide a winner, Nishida was awarded the silver and Oe the bronze by decision of the Japanese team, on the basis that Nishida had cleared the height in fewer attempts. The competition was featured in a scene in the documentary Olympia, filmed by Leni Riefenstahl. On their return to Japan, Nishida and Oe famously had their Olympic medals cut in half, and had a jeweler splice together two new “friendship medals”, half in bronze and half in silver. At the age of 41, Nishida won a bronze medal at the 1951 Asian Games. He remained active in sports all of his life, serving as a referee at events, and from 1959 as an honorary vice chairman of the Japan Association of Athletics Federations, and as a member of the Japanese Olympic Committee. In 1989, he was awarded the silver medal of the Olympic Order. Nishida died of heart failure in 1997 at the age of 87.
Izuo Anno (Japanese: 阿武巌夫) (December 2, 1909 – December 18, 1939) was a Japanese Olympic athlete who participated in…Izuo Anno (Japanese: 阿武巌夫) (December 2, 1909 – December 18, 1939) was a Japanese Olympic athlete who participated in the 1932 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. He was born in Yamaguchi Prefecture. He competed in the 100m and 200m sprints. He was 169 cm tall and weighed 63 kg. He was a graduate of Keio University. During the Second Sino-Japanese War, while undergoing his military service, he was killed in action in Nanning, Guangxi, Republic of China.
Kazuo Kimura (木村 一夫, Kimura Kazuo); born 28 June 1909) was a Japanese high jumper who won silver medals at the 1927 and…Kazuo Kimura (木村 一夫, Kimura Kazuo); born 28 June 1909) was a Japanese high jumper who won silver medals at the 1927 and 1930 Far Eastern Championship Games, losing to Simeon Toribio on all occasions. He placed sixth at the 1928 and 1932 Summer Olympics.
Shizuo Takada (高田 静雄, Takada Shizuo; 5 March 1909 – 10 December 1963) was a Japanese track and field athlete. He…Shizuo Takada (高田 静雄, Takada Shizuo; 5 March 1909 – 10 December 1963) was a Japanese track and field athlete. He competed in the men's shot put at the 1936 Summer Olympics. He later made a name for himself as a photographer.
Kenkichi Oshima (大島 鎌吉, Ōshima Kenkichi; November 10, 1908 – March 30, 1985) was a Japanese triple jumper who won a…Kenkichi Oshima (大島 鎌吉, Ōshima Kenkichi; November 10, 1908 – March 30, 1985) was a Japanese triple jumper who won a bronze medal at the 1932 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. He was the flag bearer for Japan at the 1936 Games in Berlin. Ōshima was born in Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan. While still a student, he set a new unofficial world record for the triple jump, and was widely expected to secure the gold medal in the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics. However, Ōshima suffered from severe burns in a bathing accident shortly before the start of the Olympics, and was not in the best form for the competition. He finished third with a jump of 15.12 meters behind the teammate Chuhei Nambu who took gold. Ōshima also participated in the same event in the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, but came in sixth place, while teammates Naoto Tajima and Masao Harada took the gold and silver medals, respectively. Fluent in the German language, during the Berlin Olympics, Ōshima had a 20-minute interview of Adolf Hitler, who apparently mistook Ōshima for a Japanese military attache of the same surname. Ōshima asked Hitler many questions on Nazi initiatives to improve on the physical education of German youth. After graduation from Kansai University, Ōshima was employed by the Mainichi Shimbun, working as a reporter in the sports section of the newspaper until retirement. He then accepted the post of professor emeritus and later vice president of Osaka University of Health and Sport Sciences, where he undertook reforms of the athletic department to strengthen the Japanese team in preparation for the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. He was also an honorary member of the International Olympic Committee and an author of numerous books on sports.
Misao Ono (小野 操, Ono Misao; born 27 May 1908, date of death unknown) was a Japanese track and field athlete. He…Misao Ono (小野 操, Ono Misao; born 27 May 1908, date of death unknown) was a Japanese track and field athlete. He competed in the men's high jump at the 1932 Summer Olympics.
Tatsuzo Fujita (藤田 辰三, Fujita Tatsuzō; born 19 May 1908, date of death unknown) was a Japanese hurdler. He competed in…Tatsuzo Fujita (藤田 辰三, Fujita Tatsuzō; born 19 May 1908, date of death unknown) was a Japanese hurdler. He competed in the men's 110 metres hurdles at the 1932 Summer Olympics.
Ryoji Naraoka (奈良岡 良二, Naraoka Ryōji; 2 April 1908 – 2 June 1992) was a Japanese racewalker. He competed in the men's…Ryoji Naraoka (奈良岡 良二, Naraoka Ryōji; 2 April 1908 – 2 June 1992) was a Japanese racewalker. He competed in the men's 50 kilometres walk at the 1936 Summer Olympics.
Kosaku Sumiyoshi (Japanese: 住吉 耕作; 1 October 1907 – 1971) was a Japanese track and field athlete. He represented his…Kosaku Sumiyoshi (Japanese: 住吉 耕作; 1 October 1907 – 1971) was a Japanese track and field athlete. He represented his country twice at the Summer Olympics (1928 and 1932) and was the first Asian to compete in the Olympic javelin throw. He was a three-time gold medallist at the Far Eastern Championship Games and the only person to win two javelin titles at the competition.
Teiichi Nishi (西貞一, 31 August 1907 – 3 February 2001) was a Japanese sprinter. He competed in the men's 200 metres and…Teiichi Nishi (西貞一, 31 August 1907 – 3 February 2001) was a Japanese sprinter. He competed in the men's 200 metres and the men's 4 x 400 meters relay events at the 1932 Summer Olympics.
Seishichi Inuma (井沼 清七, Inuma Seishichi; 27 July 1907 – 1 October 1973) was a Japanese sprinter. He competed in the…Seishichi Inuma (井沼 清七, Inuma Seishichi; 27 July 1907 – 1 October 1973) was a Japanese sprinter. He competed in the men's 4 × 100 metres relay at the 1928 Summer Olympics.
Ichiro Furuyama (古山 一郎, Furuyama Ichirō; born 8 February 1907, date of death unknown) was a Japanese athlete. He…Ichiro Furuyama (古山 一郎, Furuyama Ichirō; born 8 February 1907, date of death unknown) was a Japanese athlete. He competed in the men's discus throw at the 1928 Summer Olympics.
Kinue Hitomi (人見 絹枝, Hitomi Kinue; January 1, 1907 – August 2, 1931) was a Japanese track and field athlete. She was…Kinue Hitomi (人見 絹枝, Hitomi Kinue; January 1, 1907 – August 2, 1931) was a Japanese track and field athlete. She was the world record holder in several events in the 1920s – 1930s. Hitomi was also the first Japanese and Asian woman to win an Olympic medal. She was also the first woman to represent Japan at the Olympics.
Iwao Aizawa (相沢 巌夫, Aizawa Iwao; 29 August 1906 – October 1945) was a Japanese sprinter. He competed in the men's 100…Iwao Aizawa (相沢 巌夫, Aizawa Iwao; 29 August 1906 – October 1945) was a Japanese sprinter. He competed in the men's 100 metres at the 1928 Summer Olympics. He served during World War II, and died in New Bilibid Prison after the war from malaria.
Seiichiro Tsuda (津田 晴一郎, Tsuda Seiichirō; July 26, 1906 – September 20, 1991) was a Japanese runner who won the 1500…Seiichiro Tsuda (津田 晴一郎, Tsuda Seiichirō; July 26, 1906 – September 20, 1991) was a Japanese runner who won the 1500 metres event at the 1927 and 1930 Far Eastern Championship Games. He competed at the 1928 and 1932 Olympics in the marathon and finished in fifth and sixth place, respectively.
Takashi Shimokawara (July 25, 1906 – March 11, 2011) was a Japanese centenarian from Kamaishi, Iwate. He is the current…Takashi Shimokawara (July 25, 1906 – March 11, 2011) was a Japanese centenarian from Kamaishi, Iwate. He is the current M100 world record holder in the shot put, discus and javelin throw. He also holds the M95 Japanese national record in the javelin, set when he was at the age of 100. He was killed during the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami at the age of 104. Mr. Shimokawara would have a daily exercise routine that included a jog, press ups, squat thrusts and horizontal leg raises. He took up Masters athletics in 2004, at the age of 98. The most important thing of all is to stay supple and flexible. The moment you will be most stiff is when you die – you never get stiffer than that. So you’ve got to sleep well, eat well and keep moving.
Taika Gon (権 泰夏, originally Tae-ha Kwon, Korean: 권태하, June 2, 1906 – October 10, 1971) was a Korean long-distance…Taika Gon (権 泰夏, originally Tae-ha Kwon, Korean: 권태하, June 2, 1906 – October 10, 1971) was a Korean long-distance runner. He competed in the marathon at the 1932 Olympics and finished in ninth place. He competed for Japan under his Japanese name as Korea, Empire of Japan was part of the Japanese Empire at the time. The name is based on the Japanese kanji pronunciation of his Korean hanja name.
Tamao Shiwaku (塩飽 玉男, May 12, 1906 – December 15, 1990) was a Japanese runner. He competed at the 1936 Olympics in the…Tamao Shiwaku (塩飽 玉男, May 12, 1906 – December 15, 1990) was a Japanese runner. He competed at the 1936 Olympics in the marathon but did not finish the race. He died in Sakaide, Kagawa on December 15, 1990.
Kohei Murakoso (村社 講平, Murakoso Kōhei; August 29, 1905 – July 8, 1998) was a Japanese runner. He competed at the 1936…Kohei Murakoso (村社 講平, Murakoso Kōhei; August 29, 1905 – July 8, 1998) was a Japanese runner. He competed at the 1936 Olympics in the 5000 metres and 10,000 metres events and finished fourth on both occasions. Murakoso graduated from the Chuo University and then worked at Kawasaki Heavy Industries. After World War II he demobilized from the Army and worked as an athletics reporter for Mainichi Shimbun. He also helped prepare the national athletics team to the 1952 Olympics. He died of acute respiratory failure, aged 92.
Mikio Oda (織田 幹雄, Oda Mikio; 30 March 1905 – 2 December 1998) was a Japanese athlete and the first Japanese Olympic…Mikio Oda (織田 幹雄, Oda Mikio; 30 March 1905 – 2 December 1998) was a Japanese athlete and the first Japanese Olympic gold medalist. He was the first Asian Olympic champion in an individual event.
Chūhei Nambu (南部 忠平, Nanbu Chūhei; May 27, 1904 – July 23, 1997) was a Japanese track and field athlete. As of 2024, he…Chūhei Nambu (南部 忠平, Nanbu Chūhei; May 27, 1904 – July 23, 1997) was a Japanese track and field athlete. As of 2024, he is the only person to have held world records in both the long jump and the triple jump.
Tatsuo Toki (斎 辰雄, Toki Tatsuo; 31 March 1904 – 26 October 1967) was a Japanese decathlete. He competed in the men's…Tatsuo Toki (斎 辰雄, Toki Tatsuo; 31 March 1904 – 26 October 1967) was a Japanese decathlete. He competed in the men's decathlon at the 1928 Summer Olympics.
Yoshio Miki (三木 義雄, Miki Yoshio; born 6 June 1905, date of death unknown) was a Japanese hurdler. He competed in the…Yoshio Miki (三木 義雄, Miki Yoshio; born 6 June 1905, date of death unknown) was a Japanese hurdler. He competed in the men's 110 metres hurdles at the 1928 Summer Olympics.
Yoshio Okita (Japanese: 沖田 芳夫, March 28, 1903 – April 28, 2001) was a Japanese track and field athlete who won a gold…Yoshio Okita (Japanese: 沖田 芳夫, March 28, 1903 – April 28, 2001) was a Japanese track and field athlete who won a gold medal in the discus throw at the 1927 Far Eastern Championship Games. He competed in the hammer and discus throw at the 1928 Summer Olympics and placed 15th and 30th, respectively. He also attended the 1932 and 1936 Olympics as a field coach for the Japanese athletics team. In 1993 Okita took part in the World Masters Athletics Championships. Being the sole hammer throw competitor in the over 90 years age group he won the event with a result of 12.1 m.
Tokushige Noto (納戸 徳重, Noto Tokushige; 24 January 1902 – 4 January 1991) was a Japanese sprinter who competed in the…Tokushige Noto (納戸 徳重, Noto Tokushige; 24 January 1902 – 4 January 1991) was a Japanese sprinter who competed in the men's 400 metres, men's 800 metres, and the men's decathlon at the 1924 Summer Olympics in Paris, France.
Takeharu Aso (21 November 1899 – 30 May 1993) was a Japanese cross-country skier. He competed in the men's 50 kilometre…Takeharu Aso (21 November 1899 – 30 May 1993) was a Japanese cross-country skier. He competed in the men's 50 kilometre event at the 1928 Winter Olympics. He was also a middle-distance runner and shared in the 1500 metres national title with Eiichi Nagayama at the 1919 Japan Championships in Athletics.
Seiichi Ueda (born 1 March 1899, date of death unknown) was a Japanese track and field athlete. He competed in the…Seiichi Ueda (born 1 March 1899, date of death unknown) was a Japanese track and field athlete. He competed in the men's pentathlon at the 1924 Summer Olympics.
Ichiro Kaga (Japanese: 加賀 一郎, Hepburn: Kaga Ichirō; 10 June 1898 – 5 November 1946) was a Japanese sprinter. He…Ichiro Kaga (Japanese: 加賀 一郎, Hepburn: Kaga Ichirō; 10 June 1898 – 5 November 1946) was a Japanese sprinter. He competed in the men's 100 metres and men's 200 metres events at the 1920 Summer Olympics. His niece is the actress Mariko Kaga.
Saburo Hasumi (蓮見 三郎, Hasumi Saburō; born 23 January 1896, date of death unknown) was a Japanese middle-distance…Saburo Hasumi (蓮見 三郎, Hasumi Saburō; born 23 January 1896, date of death unknown) was a Japanese middle-distance runner. He competed in the men's 800 metres at the 1920 Summer Olympics.
Sasago Tani (谷 三三五, Tani Sasago; 9 May 1894 – 24 July 1956) was a Japanese sprinter. He competed in the men's 100…Sasago Tani (谷 三三五, Tani Sasago; 9 May 1894 – 24 July 1956) was a Japanese sprinter. He competed in the men's 100 metres and the 200 metres events at the 1924 Summer Olympics. Tani was born Sasago Madono (真殿 三三五) in Iri Village in the former Wake District (today Bizen City) of Okayama Prefecture. He graduated from Meiji University and worked for the Japanese Government Railways, among other jobs. By 1924 he had changed his surname to Tani. In November 1925, at the age of 31, he became the first Japanese sprinter to break the 11-second mark in the 100 metre dash. He died in 1956.
Shinichi Yamaoka (山岡 慎一, Yamaoka Shin'ichi; born 19 January 1894, date of death unknown) was a Japanese sprinter. He…Shinichi Yamaoka (山岡 慎一, Yamaoka Shin'ichi; born 19 January 1894, date of death unknown) was a Japanese sprinter. He competed in the men's 100 metres at the 1920 Summer Olympics.
Zensaku Motegi (茂木善作, Motegi Zensaku; 10 February 1893 – December 1974) was a Japanese long-distance runner. His name…Zensaku Motegi (茂木善作, Motegi Zensaku; 10 February 1893 – December 1974) was a Japanese long-distance runner. His name was also rendered Zensaku Mogi. He competed in the 10,000 metres and the marathon at the 1920 Summer Olympics.
Yahei Miura (三浦弥平, 2 April 1891 – 1971) was a Japanese long-distance runner. He competed in the marathon at the 1920…Yahei Miura (三浦弥平, 2 April 1891 – 1971) was a Japanese long-distance runner. He competed in the marathon at the 1920 and 1924 Summer Olympics.
Yahiko Mishima (三島 弥彦, Mishima Yahiko; February 23, 1886 – February 1, 1954) was a Japanese track and field athlete who…Yahiko Mishima (三島 弥彦, Mishima Yahiko; February 23, 1886 – February 1, 1954) was a Japanese track and field athlete who competed in the 1912 Summer Olympics. Together with the marathon runner Shizo Kanakuri he was the first ever Olympic competitor for Japan.
Haruka Kitaguchi (北口 榛花, Kitaguchi Haruka; born 16 March 1998) is a Japanese female javelin thrower. She is the…Haruka Kitaguchi (北口 榛花, Kitaguchi Haruka; born 16 March 1998) is a Japanese female javelin thrower. She is the reigning Olympic champion in women's javelin throw.
Kumiko Imura (井村 久美子, Imura Kumiko; born 10 January 1981 in Sakata, Yamagata) is a Japanese long jumper. She won bronze…Kumiko Imura (井村 久美子, Imura Kumiko; born 10 January 1981 in Sakata, Yamagata) is a Japanese long jumper. She won bronze medals at the 2000 World Junior Championships and the 2001 Summer Universiade, and finished eleventh at the 2001 World Championships. On the regional level she won a bronze medal at the 2005 Asian Championships and gold at the 2006 Asian Games. Her personal best jump is 6.86 metres, achieved in May 2006 in Osaka. This is the current Japanese record. She began competing as Kumiko Imura in the 2009 season.
Sumire Hata (Japanese 秦澄美鈴 Hata Sumire; born 4 May 1996) is a Japanese track and field athlete who specializes in the…Sumire Hata (Japanese 秦澄美鈴 Hata Sumire; born 4 May 1996) is a Japanese track and field athlete who specializes in the long jump. She has also competed in the high jump early in her career. In 2023 she won gold at 2023 Asian Indoor Athletics Championships and 2023 Asian Athletics Championships.
Mako Fukube (福部 真子, Fukube Mako; born 28 October 1995) is a Japanese athlete who specialises in the sprint hurdles. She…Mako Fukube (福部 真子, Fukube Mako; born 28 October 1995) is a Japanese athlete who specialises in the sprint hurdles. She represented her country at the 2022 World Championships and at the 2024 Summer Olympics. Her personal best in the event is 12.69 seconds (+1.2 m/s) set in Hiratsuka in 2024. This is the current national record.
Asami Chiba (千葉 麻美, Chiba Asami; born 25 September 1985), or Tanno, is a Japanese sprinter who specialises in the 400…Asami Chiba (千葉 麻美, Chiba Asami; born 25 September 1985), or Tanno, is a Japanese sprinter who specialises in the 400 metres. She is the Japanese record holder in the event, and has also broken the national record in the 4×400 metres relay on multiple occasions. She is a member of Natureal Athlete Club in Japan and is coached by Kazuhisa Kawamoto. As a junior athlete, Tanno won two silver medals at the Asian Junior Athletics Championships, setting a national record in 2004, and she also reached the final of the World Junior Championships. She competed at her first World Championships the following year and won two bronze medals at the Asian Championships. In the 2006 and 2007 seasons, she won bronze at the 2006 Asian Games and two silver medals at the Asian Championships. She also helped set a new national relay record and became Japan's first ever female sprint semi-finalist at the 2007 World Championships. She was less successful at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and 2009 World Championships as she was eliminated in the heats at both events. A five-time national champion in the 400 m, she has only lost once in the event at the Japanese championships, to Satomi Kubokura. She mainly competes on the Japanese athletics circuit, running at the Osaka Grand Prix, Shizuoka International and the Super Meet in Kawasaki.
Gensabulo Noguchi (野口 源三郎, Noguchi Gensaburō; August 24, 1888 – March 16, 1967) was a Japanese decathlete and educator.…Gensabulo Noguchi (野口 源三郎, Noguchi Gensaburō; August 24, 1888 – March 16, 1967) was a Japanese decathlete and educator. He competed at the 1920 Summer Olympics and finished in 12th place. Noguchi was also the flag bearer for Japan at those games. He later was a professor of physical education at such universities as the Tokyo University of Education (now Tsukuba University) and Saitama University, contributing to the development of school athletics in Japan.
Ikuko Kitamori (北森 郁子, Kitamori Ikuko) (born 10 March 1963) is a former female track and field athlete from Japan, who…Ikuko Kitamori (北森 郁子, Kitamori Ikuko) (born 10 March 1963) is a former female track and field athlete from Japan, who competed for her native country in the women's discus throw event.
Yukiko Akaba (赤羽 有紀子, Akaba Yukiko; born 18 October 1979 in Haga, Tochigi) is a Japanese long-distance runner who…Yukiko Akaba (赤羽 有紀子, Akaba Yukiko; born 18 October 1979 in Haga, Tochigi) is a Japanese long-distance runner who specializes in the 10,000 metres, half marathon and marathon events.
Yumiko Hara (Japanese: 原裕 美子, Hara Yumiko; born 9 January 1982) is a Japanese marathon runner. She has represented…Yumiko Hara (Japanese: 原裕 美子, Hara Yumiko; born 9 January 1982) is a Japanese marathon runner. She has represented Japan at two World Championships in Athletics and had won marathons in Nagoya, Osaka and Hokkaido.
Yoshimi Ozaki (尾崎 好美, Ozaki Yoshimi; born July 1, 1981) is a Japanese long-distance runner, who specializes in the…Yoshimi Ozaki (尾崎 好美, Ozaki Yoshimi; born July 1, 1981) is a Japanese long-distance runner, who specializes in the marathon. She won the 2008 Tokyo Women's Marathon in a personal best time of 2:23:30 hours. A year later she took the silver medal in the event at the 2009 World Championships in Athletics. Ozaki has won international team medals with Japan at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships and the IAAF World Half Marathon Championships. She represented Japan in the marathon at the 2012 Summer Olympics. She is coached by former world marathon medallist Sachiko Yamashita.
Kazuo Saito (斎藤 和夫, Saitō Kazuo; born 26 June 1942) is a Japanese racewalker. He competed at the 1964 Summer Olympics…Kazuo Saito (斎藤 和夫, Saitō Kazuo; born 26 June 1942) is a Japanese racewalker. He competed at the 1964 Summer Olympics and the 1968 Summer Olympics.
Mizuki Noguchi (野口 みずき, Noguchi Mizuki; born July 3, 1978) is a Japanese professional long-distance runner who…Mizuki Noguchi (野口 みずき, Noguchi Mizuki; born July 3, 1978) is a Japanese professional long-distance runner who specialises in the marathon event. She is an Olympic champion over the distance. Initially starting out as a track and cross country athlete, her first major success was becoming the Asian cross country champion at age 21. She soon switched to road running, however, focusing on the half marathon. She won the individual and team silver medals at the 1999 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships, and won a second team silver with a fourth-place finish at the same competition in 2000. A switch to the marathon event demonstrated her talents further: She won the Nagoya and Osaka Women's Marathons, and took the silver medal in the marathon at the 2003 World Championships in Athletics. Her good form continued and she became the Olympic champion in the marathon at the 2004 Athens Olympics. She won the Berlin Marathon the following year, setting world records at 25 km and 30 km along the way, and finishing with a personal best of 2:19:12 – a course record in Berlin and a new Asian record for the distance. The 25K world record was beaten by Mary Keitany of Kenya in 2010, who ran the distance in 1:19:53 hours. Before the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, Noguchi had set the second fastest time in the world for the previous year. However, she was ruled out of all competitions after tests revealed that she had fatigue and a muscular back problem. She missed the Olympics and the entire 2009 and 2010 seasons as a result. She returned in November 2011 with a fifth-place finish at the Zevenheuvelenloop. She tried to gain a spot on the 2012 Olympic team, but her run of 2:25:33 hours left her in sixth at the Nagoya Women's Marathon. A return to Nagoya in 2013 brought her third place with a run of 2:24:05 hours.
Yurika Nakamura (中村 友梨香, Nakamura Yurika) (born 1 April 1986 in Fukuchiyama) is a Japanese long-distance runner.…Yurika Nakamura (中村 友梨香, Nakamura Yurika) (born 1 April 1986 in Fukuchiyama) is a Japanese long-distance runner. Nakamura grew up in the Hyōgo Prefecture. She finished seventh at the 2006 World Road Running Championships, helping the Japanese team win the bronze medal in the team competition. In 2008, she won the Nagoya Marathon in her marathon debut. In the 2008 Summer Olympics marathon, she finished 13th. She won the 2009 Sapporo Half Marathon title with a time of 1:09:20.
