This audio is generated by AI, so pronunciation and expressions may not be fully accurate. The narration is only in English.
Takahashi has a close relationship with the World Athletics Championships. At the 1997 Athens Games, she represented Japan for the first time, competing in the 5,000 meters event. Although she did not win, it was an invaluable experience to compete on the world stage.
She was also selected for the national marathon team for the subsequent 1999 Seville Games and was considered a favorite for the gold, but she was unable to run due to an injury. "My training was perfect, so I was heartbroken," she said. Top athletes always risk injury when training as they test their limits. However, Takahashi learned that her training efforts would never pay off if she could not get to the starting line. With this in mind, she carefully prepared for the Sydney Olympics. It was this experience that led to her famous comment after winning: "It was a really fun 42 kilometers."
At the WCH Tokyo 25, the city hosted the world's top athletes, who, like Takahashi, had pushed themselves to the limit. One of the athletes she was most excited to watch was Armand "Mondo" Duplantis, the Swedish pole vault world record holder.
"I was there when Duplantis broke the world record at the 2024 Paris Olympics. It's one of those great scenes that I'll treasure forever," she said. At the time, all events except the pole vault had finished and nearly 80,000 people's eyes were on Duplantis. He had already secured the gold but was trying to break the world record as the sole remaining athlete in the stadium. "You can try the pole vault until you fail three times in a row. Duplantis had already failed on his first two attempts at the record. With only one attempt left, the stadium fell silent. Despite the tremendous pressure, he successfully cleared the bar. The crowd immediately burst into cheers! I'll never forget that excitement. I'm sure there will be moments like this in this tournament where athletes and spectators come together."
Takahashi also mentioned Yaroslava Mahuchikh of Ukraine, the world record holder in the women's high jump. "She won a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics, but I feel that the reason she has become so strong since then is because she is determined to let people around the world know about her country and to inspire the people of Ukraine." Many find inspiration in Mahuchikh's dedication to competition despite hardship. She is sometimes affectionately called the "Sleeping Beauty" due to her habit of resting in her sleeping bag during trials.
We also asked Takahashi about the Japanese athletes to keep an eye on in this competition. Here are two of the many athletes she mentioned.
One is Yamanishi Toshikazu, who competed in the men's 20km race walk. "He set a new world record in February this year, and I think it's fair to say that he is one of the closest Japanese athletes to a gold medal, along with Kitaguchi Haruka, who won the gold in the women's javelin throw at the Paris Olympics. After missing out on the Paris Olympics, Yamanishi has adapted to thick-soled racing shoes and made a comeback."
When it comes to the women's marathon, she mentioned Kobayashi Kana as the one to watch. "At Waseda University, she was a member of its running club, not the competitive athletic team. She wanted to train more seriously, so she continued to compete after graduating in a corporate team and made great progress in just one year. She has a very fast cadence, which gives her an advantage when enduring long distances because it reduces the impact of her strides. I hope she stays in the leading group until the second half."
The athletes participate in the Games not only for records and rankings but also to inspire those around them. "In some countries, the mere presence of a national athlete at the World Athletics Championships is significant. For example, in countries where women lack empowerment and few of them can participate in professional sports, the presence of a strong female athlete can lead to improving the status of women as a whole. In countries where interest in sports is low, the success of a national athlete can lead to significant changes in the people's exercise habits," she explained. Sports have the power to transform society.
During her competitive years, Takahashi was fully immersed in her craft. "I was so focused on getting through the everyday training that I didn't have the mental space to look around." This time, however, her role was to report on the athletes' achievements. "I'll try to use the Games as an opportunity to let people fall in love with the athletes so that they will continue to support them. I've also been interviewing them so that I can reveal their human side," she said. Her support would prove to be tremendously valuable for the athletes.
Takahashi also emphasizes the joy of cheering as a spectator. "At the Paris Olympics, the crowd's support was truly remarkable—quiet when athletes like Duplantis were about to start, and roaring when it was time to cheer. It made me realize that sporting events are truly created by athletes and spectators coming together. Cheering is like the final piece of the puzzle. When it's placed, that's when these events are at their best for both the athletes and the spectators."
The same is true for the marathon events held in Tokyo. Takahashi recounted the three marathons in Tokyo she participated in. "My experiences have been both happy and sad, but the big cheers from the spectators always empowered me. Even when I lost speed in the middle of the race, their voices encouraged me to keep going."
Tokyo is an attractive city for runners. "In addition to the massive support of fans, the roads are also wide and clean, so you can concentrate on running without worrying about your footing. There are also a wide variety of landmarks and buildings to help motivate you to reach them in the distance," she said.
Takahashi enjoys running in Tokyo to this day. "I like running along the Sumida River. There are very few traffic lights from Tsukiji to Kitasenju, so I can keep running without stopping. Tokyo has many parks, such as Yoyogi Park, and there are many places to run surrounded by greenery. Many people also enjoy jogging around the Imperial Palace. A South American person I once met was surprised that women can run alone in Tokyo and was impressed by the city's safe urban environment, where everyone can enjoy sports freely."
The organizers of the Games also developed the WCH Tokyo 25 Sustainability Plan, which addresses climate change and energy, heat countermeasures, diversity, interest in athletics, and people's well-being. "It's important to hold these events with a view to solving social problems. This conveys a powerful message to many people," Takahashi said.
The Tokyo 2025 Deaflympics will be held in November. "I want to use the excitement generated by the WCH as momentum for the Deaflympics. By bringing together people from different walks of life, I think we can create a better, more inclusive society," she said.
The last time Tokyo held the World Athletics Championships 34 years ago, Takahashi saw her friend who is the same age compete in it. "That made me realize that I wanted to be at the World Athletics Championships and the Olympics, which had been only a dream until then. I hope that by hosting the WCH Tokyo 25, the city will become a place where dreams are born and become reality."
