Skip to main content

IAAF Kills Hiroshi Neko's Olympic Ambitions

http://www.47news.jp/CN/201205/CN2012050801001972.html

translated by Brett Larner

On May 8 it was announced that the IAAF has sent a ruling to the Cambodian federation that Japanese comedian Hiroshi Neko (34, born Kuniaki Takizaki), who changed his citizenship last October with the aim of making Cambodia's London Olympic team in the marathon, does not satisfy Olympic entry qualifications.  Cambodia had already announced Neko as a member of its Olympic team, but the IAAF's decision kills his Olympic ambitions.

Cambodian Olympic Committee executive member Vath Chamrouen commented, "We're not going to take this any further.  We're going to pick someone else as soon as possible and send another athlete."

Translator's note: Cambodian national record holder Hem Bunting broke his own mark with a new  national record of 2:23:29 at April's Paris Marathon, almost seven minutes faster than Neko's PB set at the Beppu-Oita Mainichi Marathon in February.

Comments

CK said…
Japanese versions of this story currently circulating on Mainichi, Yomiuri and Asahi in the past 24 hours all reference Neko's 2:30:26 pb and some reference his impressive improvement. However all fail to mention Cambodian native Hem Bunting's 2:23:29 NR from last month to provide context (...never mind Bunting's pedigree as SEA Games medalist from 2007 and 2009, or indeed currently heading the 2012 marathon ranking list for all (yes, all) South East Asian countries). Respect to Japan Running News for adding it as a translator's footnote. It cleary is a part of the story, especially with Cambodia's NOC choosing to announce their selection of Neko for OG just days before the Paris Marathon, when reports from Eldoret (Kenya) already indicated that Bunting was in shape for a new NR. One can only wonder why the mainstream Japanese media (again) chooses to ignore the CAM half of the story.
May 9, 2012 at 4:35 PM
Arai said…
to above commentator:
Japanese media obviously did not ignore Hem Bunting and his part of the story, i.e. you can read about it here (since you mentioned mainichi):
http://mainichi.jp/select/news/20120509k0000m040139000c.html

If you do a google research you will find more.
May 9, 2012 at 9:10 PM
Brett Larner said…
TV Asahi just ran a piece on Neko getting axed and did not mention Bunting, although they did devote quite a bit of time showing Neko running in Cambodia.

Sub-2:18 may not have been realistic but all respect is due to Bunting for staying focused and getting the job done with a new NR under these circumstances. I hope we see him in London this summer.
May 9, 2012 at 10:48 PM
CK said…
Thanks for the 2 above clarifications. Any readers wishing to see how this weeks update was presented in the Cambodian press (in English):

http://www.phnompenhpost.com/index.php/2012050856037/Sport/olympics-no-go-for-neko.html
May 10, 2012 at 6:17 PM
Post a Comment

Most-Read This Week

National University Championships Entry Lists and Streaming

The 95th National University Track and Field Championships run Friday through Monday at Nissan Stadium in Yokohama. The complete meet schedule and live results are here . The 10000 m races were already held separately earlier this season. Streaming starts at 9:00 a.m. Saturday Japan time, with separate field event channels and Day 2 and 3 streaming here . Top entries in each event with best performance in the qualifying window: Men 100 m Shoma Yamamoto (Hiroshima Univ.) - 10.04 Fukuto Komuro (Chuo Univ.) - 10.07 Naoki Nishioka (Tsukuba Univ.) - 10.09 Riku Oishi (Toyo Univ.) - 10.13 Kaito Kuroki (Chuo Univ.) - 10.14 Ryunosuke Mizuno (Waseda Univ.) - 10.14 Yugo Haitamataira (Juntendo Univ.) - 10.17 Shun Miyashita (Daito Bunka Univ.) - 10.19 200 m Akira Hayashi (Keio Univ.) - 20.36 Tomoru Funaki (Daito Bunka Univ.) - 20.39 Oma Asai (Tsukuba Univ.) - 20.47 Reishin Yamamoto (Toyo Univ.) - 20.49 Shingo Suzuki (Tokai Univ.) - 20.54 Haruto Nakamura (Fukuoka Univ.) - 20.55 400 m Shinya Hayashi...
Post a Comment
Read more

Yuasa and Niiya Win Hokkaido Marathon, 6 Qualify for Olympic Trials

  Six more people picked up qualifying spots for next year's MGC Race at yesterday's Hokkaido Marathon in Sapporo, guaranteeing themselves places at Japan's 2028 Los Angeles Olympics marathon trials. In the men's race, Hibiki Yoshida tried to break away from the massive lead group at 30 km, opening a 25-second lead between there and 35 km before getting cut down by the chase trio of Jin Yuasa , Ken Tansho and Masato Arao . All three stayed together until the very end, Yuasa showing the same kind of closing speed he had in winning 2025 Nobeoka Nishi Nippon Marathon and pulling away to win in 2:10:46. The debuting Tansho was next in 2:10:55, with Arao, 6th at last year's Sydney Marathon in an excellent 2:07:42, 3rd here in 2:10:59. By clearing 2:12:00 all three picked up MGC qualifying spots, freeing them up to go overseas next spring. Continuing a great season, Soka University 's Shoki Yamaguchi was 4th in 2:11:47, missing out on trials qualification but bea...
1 comment
Read more

Monterey Welcomes Student-Athletes from Sister City Nanao, Japan

a press release by the Monterey-Nanao Cross Country Exchange Project photos here Fourteen student-athletes from Nanao High School in Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan, recently completed a weeklong visit to the Monterey Peninsula as part of the Monterey–Nanao Cross Country Exchange Project , bringing together young people from the two Sister Cities through running, education, environmental stewardship, cultural exchange, and friendship. The seven boys and seven girls from Nanao were paired with 14 members of the Monterey High School cross country team and stayed in their homes throughout the visit. The week marked the first half of a reciprocal exchange that will continue when the Monterey students travel to Nanao later this year. The visitors received their first introduction to Monterey shortly after arriving at Monterey High School, walking with their hosts to Sister City Park and gathering for photographs beside the sign honoring Nanao — a fitting beginning for a week devoted to bringin...
Post a Comment
Read more