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Naoko Takahashi (高橋 尚子, Takahashi Naoko, born May 6, 1972) is a retired Japanese long-distance runner and Olympic gold medal-winning marathoner. She won the gold medal in the marathon at the 2000 Sydney Olympics and became the first woman to complete a marathon in under 2:20:00 in 2001.

Naoko Takahashi

Naoko Takahashi at the 2008 Nagoya Women's International Marathon
Medal record
Women’s Athletics
Representing  Japan
Olympic Games
	2000 Sydney	Marathon
Asian Games
	1998 Bangkok	Marathon

Biography

Takahashi was born in Gifu, Gifu Prefecture on May 6, 1972, the eldest daughter of educator Yoshiaki Takahashi and his wife Shigeko.[1] Her father was a kindergarten principal.[2] She is a second cousin-niece of chemist and Nobel Prize laureate Hideki Shirakawa.[1]

She started running track in junior high school, and placed second in the 1500 meter and third in the 3000 meter races at the Japanese national collegiate championships while attending Osaka Gakuin University. Following graduation, she sought out the prominent distance running coach Yoshio Koide (coach) [ja] and began training under him.[3] She supplemented her training regimen in Japan with altitude training in Colorado.[4][5]

In March 1998,[6] running in her second marathon, Takahashi set a Japanese women's record of 2:25:48 at the Nagoya Women's Marathon.[3] Two months later, she won the 5000 meter race in the Osaka Japan Grand Prix.[7] Later in December of that same year, Takahashi set a new Japanese women's marathon record when she won the Asian Games marathon in Bangkok with a time of 2:21:47 under very warm conditions.[3]

In March 2000, Takahashi earned a spot on Japan's Olympic women's marathon team after winning the Nagoya Women's Marathon in a time of 2:22:19.[3] She went on to win the women's marathon at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, with an Olympic record time of 2:23:14. It remained the fastest women's Olympic marathon until 2012 in London. Following her gold medal victory, Takahashi received the 2000 AIMS Best Marathon Runner Award as well as Japan's People's Honour Award.

At the 2001 Berlin Marathon, Takahashi became the first woman to break the 2 hour 20 minute barrier, finishing in a world record time of 2:19:46. In the women's marathon event (and not counting multiple records set by the same athlete), she still holds the 7th best time and the 3rd best Japanese marathon performance behind Yoko Shibui (2:19:41) and Mizuki Noguchi (2:19:12). The following year, Takahashi won the 2002 Berlin Marathon with a time of 2:21:49.

During her running career, Takahashi suffered from a series of injuries. She announced her retirement in October 2008.[8]

The Gifu Seiryu Half Marathon was launched in 2011 with the honorary title being the Naoko Takahashi Cup. Takahashi serves as the chairwoman for the race.[9]

Since her retirement from competitive running, Takahashi has also worked as a sportscaster,[10] marathon commentator,[11] served as a Japanese Olympic Committee (JOC) executive,[12] and served as an executive member of the Japan Association of Athletics Federations (JAAF).[11]

Takahashi is related to former Morning Musume leader Hitomi Yoshizawa.

Achievements

• 2000 Olympic Games - gold medal
• 2001 Berlin Marathon - world record

Date	Event	Time	Result
Jan. 1997	Osaka International Women's Marathon	2:31:32	7th place
Mar. 1998	Nagoya International Women's Marathon	2:25:48	1st place, Japanese record at the time
Dec. 1998	Bangkok Asian Games	2:21:47	gold medal, Japanese record at the time
Mar. 2000	Nagoya International Women's Marathon	2:22:19	1st place
Sep. 2000	Sydney Olympics	2:23:14	gold medal, Olympic record at the time
Feb. 2001	OHME Marathon (30 km)	1:41:57	Japanese record at the time
Sep. 2001	Berlin Marathon	2:19:46	1st place, World Record at the time
Sep. 2002	Berlin Marathon	2:21:49	1st
Nov. 2003	Tokyo International Women's Marathon	2:27:21	2nd
Nov. 2005	Tokyo International Women's Marathon	2:24:39	1st
Nov. 2006	Tokyo International Women's Marathon	2:31:22	3rd
Mar. 2008	Nagoya Marathon	2:44:18	27th

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Naoko Takahashi.

• Naoko Takahashi at World Athletics
• Takahashi taking life in stride 01-09-2003 http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2003/01/09/more-sports/takahashi-taking-life-in-stride/
• Takahashi setting sights on another Olympic gold in 2004 01-10-2003 http://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2003/01/10/more-sports/takahashi-setting-sights-on-another-olympic-gold-in-2004/
• "The Distance: the story of an enduring Japanese marathon tradition and a humble champion named Naoko Takahashi who captured her nation's imagination with a run for the ages at the 2000 Olympic Games". Five Ring Films. Retrieved 2021-08-14.

Records
Preceded by Tegla Loroupe	Women's Marathon World Record Holder September 30, 2001 – October 7, 2001	Succeeded by Catherine Ndereba

На других языках

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- [en] Naoko Takahashi

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[fr] Naoko Takahashi

Naoko Takahashi (en japonais, 高橋尚子, née le 6 mai 1972 à Gifu) est une athlète japonaise, pratiquant le marathon.

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[it] Naoko Takahashi

Naoko Takahashi (Gifu, 6 maggio 1972) è un'ex maratoneta giapponese.

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[ru] Такахаси, Наоко

Наоко Такахаси (род. 6 мая 1972 года) — японская легкоатлетка, которая специализировалась в марафоне. Победительница олимпийских игр 2000 года на марафонской дистанции с олимпийским рекордом — 2.23,14.

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