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Serious Words From Noguchi's Coach Fujita

http://www.sponichi.co.jp/olympic/news/2009/05/16/02.html

translated by Brett Larner

Nobuyuki Fujita (68), coach of women's national marathon record holder Mizuki Noguchi (30, Team Sysmex) who withdrew from last summer's Beijing Olympics marathon with an injury to her left thigh, turned up at the Amagasaki Memorial Track and Field Grounds on May 15 to watch the first day of the Kansai Jitsugyodan Track and Field Meet. Speaking of his star pupil's inability to resume training with reinjuring herself Fujita admitted that he had recently hurled harsh words at Noguchi, telling her, "If you keep going on like this then it looks like it's over." Noguchi has resumed jogging several times since her original injury, but each time she has begun training at a higher pace the pain has returned. Fujita recognizes that Noguchi may be headed down her last road but still seeks to encourage her and has adopted the motto "looking forward to running" as the theme of her rehabilitation.

Comments

Roberto said…
It's a problem typical of those who have climbed the highest step in their sport, though. Where does the motivation come from after that? There are so many examples.
dennis said…
Megumi Seike is the next Mizuki Noguchi. Sysmex website advertise Megumi SEike everywhere. And I can't believe Noguchi is still in sysmex. She didn't contribute any major results for the team. Megumi Seike is way better than NOguchi now.
dennis said…
I don't understand how some Japanese runners just disappear out of the spotlight completely. Yasuko Iwamamoto who beated NOguchi in Sapporo 2005 half marathon hasn't raced since then. What the hell happened to her? If I beat Noguchi I'll go out and race.

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