Naoko Takahashi

Pressure takes its toll on marathon runner Takahashi

“I am completely burnt out,” Sydney Olympic marathon gold medalist Naoko Takahashi, 36, told a press conference where she announced her retirement on Oct 28. However, insiders suggest that Takahashi was probably pressured to retire and that it had less to do with her capability as an athlete than with commercial pressure.

“Athletes should decide their retirement, considering their own physical and mental capabilities. Takahashi, however, seems incapable of judging these things because she’s been too busy managing her own team for years,” says a female marathon runner close to Takahashi.

Takahashi launched her own team of runners—Team Q—in 2005 after she had failed to qualify for the Athens Olympics in 2004. She signed a 600 million yen sponsorship agreement with sporting gear maker Phiten for four years. Her aim was to be selected for Beijing, but she failed again.

Takahashi’s former coach, Yoshio Koide, says, “Since Takahashi launched Team Q, she has had to arrange the training schedule and venues by herself. She also had to train herself. I think she got exhausted from leading the team. That likely was one factor in her retirement.”

Takahashi’s exhaustion resulted in her dismal performance (27th) in the Nagoya, International Marathon in March which marked her worst record. The last major race she won was the Tokyo International Marathon in 2005.

Takahashi’s personal manager Hitoshi Yasuno says managing Team Q did not distract Takahashi. “The environment (in the team) was perfect.”

However, sports critic Gentaro Taniguchi points out: “Takahashi is an example of how marathon runners in Japan today have to be affiliated with specific organizations. In her case, she had sponsorships and had to meet their expectations, which put a lot of pressure on her. I think she found she’s no longer a worthwhile product for them.” (Translated by Taro Fujimoto)

12 Comments

BlackFlag at 10:32 AM JST - 5th November

bean counters and athletes don't mix
techall at 12:31 PM JST - 5th November

I am so tired of National Teams. Politicos selecting team representatives. Small, poor countries unable to send Opympic class athletes because of limited funds but big rich countries send a bunch of mediocre athletes along with their best because the have huge budgets. My suggestion: Let countries send their national teams but in limited numbers and anyone else who is good enough to qualify and of oylympic caliber should be able to go if they can get sponsored ...... that's right, corporate sponsorship....Coke, Nike, Adidas, Mizuno, Citibank etc.
daisan at 02:43 PM JST - 5th November

So having sponsorships puts a lot of pressure on professional athletes now? Isn't that part of the job?
electric2004 at 12:32 AM JST - 6th November
What is so difficult in running, that merely organizing makes her exhausted?

Maybe she should start with the 101:
- select the route on the map
-put on shoes and running suit

-start the timer

-run

-arrive

-stop the timer

-take a shower

-change clothes

-drive home.
dontpanic at 12:12 AM JST - 7th November

techall - Your sponsorship idea has some merit but wouldnt work as is as theres little incentive for a company to sponsor unknown athletes. However if the Olympic committee were to take a levy from the major sponsors it might help fund the smaller teams.
nandakandamanda at 03:58 PM JST - 7th November

Takahashi was such a light and wonderful person. The corporate climate in Japan can be seriously nerve wrecking. Hard, cruel, and soul-sucking. Even that bitchy comment in paragraph 2 contains a trace of it.

I feel very sorry for her and I wish her the best with whatever else she tries. Fly, little bird!
frontandcentre at 04:21 PM JST - 7th November

I'm surprised that she didn't quit earlier. After Sydney, her career took a rapid downward turn and competitively, she's virtually done nothing since. She was obviously a talented athlete, but she's been living on goodwill for a long time and eventually it has to run out.

That said, I hope that she finds happiness in her life and new choice of career. She's earned it
Blue_Tiger at 11:19 PM JST - 8th November

I like her far more than I like Noguchi.
yasukuni at 10:11 AM JST - 10th November

She's cute. It's her old coach that grates on me.
bushlover at 12:08 PM JST - 10th November

She can run to me for help. I'm up for her. yes very cute.
a43Minami at 04:00 PM JST - 11th November

Takahashi was a great woman with run. Everybody in Japanese who like to run or watch the games are respect her in the first time. But in the middle of her marathon life, I feel she is going to be old. But she didn't retire her marathon life in the end, but she might be feel it is impossible to run and get prize any more because she did her marathon for many times but she could not keep her pace and also she was going to be in later group I could see on TV. So in this time she decided to retire her marathon life I think. But I love her and courage very much. She did great things in the world and she has given brave for many people who do any sports a lot. What do you think??
helloklitty at 11:55 PM JST - 2nd December

what an incredibly boring event - leave it to the Japanese to worship it