Naoko Takahashi

Naoko Takahashi

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

Naoko Takahashi (高橋 尚子, Takahashi Naoko, born May 6, 1972 in Gifu, Japan) is a Japanese long-distance runner competing mainly in the marathon. She is widely known for her victory in the women's marathon at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, a performance that stands as the current Olympic record. At the 2001 Berlin Marathon, Takahashi became the first woman to break the 2 hour 20 minute barrier while setting a world record. 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 (2:19:10). She is related to former Morning Musume leader Hitomi Yoshizawa. She announced her retirement in October 2008.

Achievements

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

Date	Event	Time	Note
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, current Olympic record
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

External links

• Naoko Takahashi at World Athletics