Dignified Female Athletes to Watch in Paris: Yumi Tanaka, Mako Fukube, Sumire Hata | FRIDAY DIGITAL

Dignified Female Athletes to Watch in Paris: Yumi Tanaka, Mako Fukube, Sumire Hata

Athletes in action at the Japan Athletics Championships, which also serves as the selection of Japan's Olympic team!

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Yumi Tanaka (25) – 100m Hurdles: Born in 1998 in Osaka Prefecture. Height: 172 cm. After graduating from Ritsumeikan University, she joined Fujitsu and won a bronze medal at the 2023 Asian Games. In the recent Japan Track and Field Championships, she recorded the second fastest time in Japanese history with 12.85 seconds.

At the Japan Track and Field Championships held from June 27 to 30, top athletes representing the Japanese track and field world gathered, with many securing their spots for the Olympics. Among them, FRIDAY focused on five female athletes.

Sumire Hata (28) in the long jump and Mako Fukube (28) in the 100m hurdles both won their events and secured their Olympic spots. Yumi Tanaka (25), who finished just 0.03 seconds behind Fukube in second place in the 100m hurdles, did not secure her spot outright but is likely to be selected based on her world ranking.

Nagisa Takahashi (24), who achieved her third consecutive championship in the high jump, also remains a strong candidate for selection.

“Nozomi Tanaka (24) has already secured her spot in the 5000m and also secured a place in the 1500m. She is the closest to winning an Olympic medal,” said a sports newspaper editor.

The day to witness their brave performances in Paris is approaching.

Mako Fukube (28) 100m hurdles

Born in 1995 in Hiroshima Prefecture. Height: 166 cm. After graduating from Nippon Sport Science University, she joined Nippon Construction Industry. In the finals of the 2022 All-Japan Corporate Team Championships, she set a new Japanese record with a time of 12.73 seconds.

Fukube Mako (28) 100m hurdles

Sumire Hata (28) – Long Jump

Born in 1996 in Osaka Prefecture. Height: 169 cm. During high school, she focused on sprinting and high jump, but after entering Mukogawa Women’s University, she switched to long jump. In 2023, she set a new Japanese record with a jump of 6.97 meters.

Sumire Hata (28) long jump

Nagisa Takahashi (24) high jump

Born in 2000 in Tokyo. Height: 173 cm. She discovered athletics during middle school physical education classes, and after graduating from Nihon University, she joined Mason Work. In the recent Japan Track and Field Championships, she achieved a three-time consecutive victory by recording 1.87 meters.

Nagisa Takahashi (24) High Jump

Nozomi Tanaka (24) – Middle to Long Distance

Born in 1999 in Hyogo Prefecture. Height: 153 cm. She started athletics seriously in middle school. Graduated from Doshisha University. She holds Japanese records in the 1000m, 1500m, 3000m, and 5000m events. She will compete in the 1500m and 5000m events in Paris.

Nozomi Tanaka (24) middle and long distance

From the July 19, 2024 issue of FRIDAY

  • PHOTO Tsutomu Kishimoto/PICSPORT

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