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Akasaki on 6th-Place Finish in Paris: "A 2:09 Guy Making Top 8 Was a Nice Surprise"



A native of Ozu, Kumamoto, Paris Olympics men's marathon 6th-place finisher Akira Akasaki appeared at a press conference in his current base of Fukuoka on Aug. 19. "Most people didn't think I could make top 8," he said. "I think a 2:09 guy making top 8 was a nice surprise."

Before the marathon Akasaki's PB was only 2:09:01, ranking him 74th among the 81 starters in the marathon field. But at 25 km Akasaki led the field, and in the later stages of the race he stayed with the leaders until the very end. He finished 6th in 2:07:32, the fastest time ever by a Japanese man at the Olympics.

Akasaki was the first runner from Kumamoto to make an Olympic marathon since Shizo Kanakuri 100 years ago. Now he is aiming for more. "It wasn't just fun, but I feel like I actually ran a good race too," he said. "The Paris Olympics as an event helped me grow. I'm looking at this as the start line. I want to take the confidence I've gotten from this result, keep my feet on the ground, and keep aiming higher."

source article:
translated and edited by Brett Larner

photo © 2024 Mika Tokairin, all rights reserved

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