Kazuki Yamashita wins gold medal in men's marathon at Nagoya Asian Games

(26th, Aichi/Nagoya Asian Games Men's Marathon Gold Medal Winner Kazuki Yamashita)

Kazuki Yamashita (Mitsubishi Heavy Industries) was the first to return to the stadium and checked his back many times as he ran around the track. “I always thought (the second-best player) would be there.”

After taking the lead around 35 km, people around him told him that he was 9 to 10 seconds behind. However, in the end it was a complete victory with a difference of 48 seconds.

When he cut the finishing tape, he was greeted with a smile known as the "Ichitaka Smile." ``I'm finally relieved. I might get a cramp over there (at the goal),'' he said, making reporters laugh.

Momentum for MGC

Three years ago, I had a bitter experience in Budapest, Hungary.

The 2023 World Championships was the first time I ran a marathon wearing the Japanese flag on my back. I was within winning range until the 40km mark, but I felt a strain in my left calf. As he ran to protect himself, his right leg also hurt and he fell to 11th place.

There were no results for the next two years. He also developed tension on the back of his left thigh, and ``I suffered from it for about a year.'' It was at the Osaka Marathon in February of this year that I finally felt no longer uncomfortable and remembered the joy of running. 2nd place in Japan with a time of 2 hours 6 minutes 18 seconds. It gave an impression of revival.

In October 2027, the Marathon Grand Championship (MGC) will be held in Nagoya, where athletes will compete for tickets to the Los Angeles Olympics. The gold medal at the Asian Games gave her a big boost as she prepares for a one-shot match in a year's time.

Mikuni Yada remains undeterred by her fall