Olympic marathon champ Noguchi pulls out injured

Wednesday 13th August, 12:44 AM JST

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NICOLE77 at 08:36 AM JST - 13th August

Noguchi is an amazing athlete and its a shame she has had to pull out.
Crucifier99 at 11:12 AM JST - 13th August

She won gold at Athens but the media didn't hail her like they did Takahashi who won it in Sidney or other media darlings that won maybe because Noguchi isn't kawaii nor Akarui. A very biased media is playing the sympathy card sunce Noguchi was the only hope of Japan doing a 3 peat. By the way are Noguchi's injury not the result of excessive training, trust the Japanese to train to death.
rajakumar at 11:24 AM JST - 13th August

No problems with me, she is fine athlete.

Injured athletes should not participate.

She can keep running and winning, many other marathons around the world.

She may earn more dollars/fame via these other marathons.
ogtob at 11:51 AM JST - 13th August

The real scandal here has nothing to do with Noguchi's injury but the fact that Japan had not nominated a reserve.
Helter_Skelter at 01:00 PM JST - 13th August

That's too bad. She was really impressive in Athens.
shayouzoku at 01:43 PM JST - 13th August

she doesn't like running in the heat

if only the winter olympics had a marathon event
hachmike66 at 02:09 PM JST - 13th August

Now don't go balistic on me, but I wonder if she was afraid of testing positive for something, and this way she won't be tested if she doesn't run. Just a thought. But yes it was very stupid of Japan not to have a reserve runner just in case.
nigelboy at 02:31 PM JST - 13th August

I believe the other alternate reserve is also injured.
Smythe at 02:35 PM JST - 13th August

Sorry to see such a good runner that had to give up due to injuries that acted up on them.

Also a pity that someone in the Japan Red Tape paper end failed to list a back-up. Unfortunately those doing paper work SHOULD have taken that into consideration-----one has to look at the pros & cons of any race or sport & be prepared with a sub or alternative that THAT is a MUST.

I save the above from being a Certified Amateur Wrestling Coach from mid 50s to '77.
nigelboy at 02:39 PM JST - 13th August

Also a pity that someone in the Japan Red Tape paper end failed to list a back-up. Unfortunately those doing paper work SHOULD have taken that into consideration-----one has to look at the pros & cons of any race or sport & be prepared with a sub or alternative that THAT is a MUST.

Debatable. Considering that marathon runners prepare and train vigourously for months and months in advance until the very last minute, I think it's asking too much for the alternates to do the same.
Badsey at 03:04 PM JST - 13th August

runners run: Being asked to fill an Olympic spot might come as a surprise but many could fill that spot. With all the rain China has been having the winner maybe a surprise this year. A runner runs every day and wouldn't turn down the opportunity. -->24hrs notice for some.
smithinjapan at 03:15 PM JST - 13th August

That's a shame... really. As Oggie points out, it has got to be SUCH a disappointment to train for so long and then be injured just before the Olympics; and it's not like you get chances over and over again to go. People are lucky to get into the Olympics twice in their lifetimes, let alone those skilled enough to get in three or more times. Hopefully Noguchi can get in on the next one again.

Anyway, I don't know a single nation that hasn't suffered SOME kind of injury for one or more of its athletes this time around.
Smythe at 03:43 PM JST - 13th August

I feel Badsey is 100% correct. If some one was offered the opportunity to fill in for basically the best in the world------ I am sure they would jump at the opportunity. While they might not have placed first they would have done their best & placed high enough in the event that they would be proud & possibly that will be an opportunity for them to compete or be envited to compete in other events in their own country or who knows where else?

Note that some of the swimmers to gymnastic people were asked to fill in during the last moment (though in some cases it was a matter of them taking the place of someone else & that was some months ago) & did well besides they are now more prepared to try out & possibly become a representive of their Countries next Summer Olympics.
ambrosia at 04:37 PM JST - 13th August

That's really too bad especially after all the hours and hours of training that she put into it and the excellent shot she had of winning. She's not too old to give it another shot in 4 years.
pathat at 05:10 PM JST - 13th August

Japan DOES still have Reiko Tosa and Yurika Nakamura entered in the marathon.

You all know Reiko Tosa, right? The very talented marathoner who won a silver medal at the World Championships in 2001, and a bronze in 2007.

But of course the Japanese media does not go out of its way to hype her. She just does not fit the "kawaii" or "akarui" label Crucifier mentions above that can be more closely ascribed to Mizuki Noguchi or Naoko Takahashi. Do they have some kind of runner`s "iyashikei" that only the Japanese can pick up on?

I can clearly remember races when the Japanese media always tried to build up other Japanese runners-like Yoko Shibui a.k.a. "The New Century New Heroine"-and not the underappreciated Tosa.

Maybe Beijing 2008 is the chance for Reiko Tosa to finally shine so brightly that the J-media will not be able to dismiss her.