【Report】Press Conference (Para Athletes)

A press conference was held for the Tokyo Legacy Half Marathon 2024 at the Japan National Stadium on Friday, October 18, two days before the race. This is the third time the race will be held, and 8 invited para-athletes were in attendance. All of the para-athletes were part of the Japan national team at the Paralympic Games in Paris 2024 and will be participating in this race only a month and a half after the highly competitive event.

【Para Athletes T53/T54 (wheelchair)】
There are two invited para-athletes in the T53/T54 （wheelchair） men’s field. Tomoki Suzuki (Toyota Motors), the winner of the past 2 Tokyo Legacy Half Marathon races, is doing well having won the bronze in the marathon at the Paralympic Games in Paris 2024 and placing third at the Chicago Marathon held on October 13. He shared his outlook. “There is some fatigue, but my condition is good. I hope to win again while enjoying the race.” Ryota Yoshida, who did not race last year, shared his goal. “I really like this course, and I hope to place better than third place from my last race (in 2022).”
There are also two para-athletes in the women’s field. Wakako Tsuchida (will raise) commented “This is my first race since the event in Paris, but my condition is good. I hope to execute a race that relays the appeal of wheelchair racing while competing with Kina.” Last year’s winner, Tsubasa Kina (Ryukyu Sport Support) has a consecutive win in sight. “I want to really appreciate the joy and fun of chasing during the race. I hope to keep pace with Tsuchida who does well on uphill sections for a great competition.”
The para-athletes shared their individual responses when asked about the highlights of the wheelchair race. “Vying for the ideal position and strategy execution within the group” (Suzuki). “The power on an incline” (Yoshida). “The speed” (Tsuchida). “While it’s a bit challenging for the wheelchair race, the turnaround and corners where takeovers take place.” (Kina).
Wheelchair Race Director Masazumi Soejima shared his prospects for the race. “I expect the competition to be fierce into the second half with Suzuki using his momentum to lead and the other para-athletes including Yoshida working hard to stay close. For the women’s race, it will be interesting to see whether Tsuchida uses her skill on the incline to pull away, or if Kina is persistent and the two sprint for the win.”

【Para Athletes T11/T12 (vision impairment)】
There are three invited men’s para-athletes in the T11/T12 (vision impairment) field. The silver medalist at the Paralympic Games in Paris 2024 and the winner of last year’s race Kenya Karasawa (SUBARU), commented convincingly. “While I usually participate in track events, I’ve been preparing for this event since the Paralympic Games in Paris 2024. I am somewhat concerned about being able to maintain my stamina in the second half, but I want to give it my best and try for a consecutive win.”
Tadashi Horikoshi (NTT WEST) shared his goal. “This is a memorable course because there is some overlap with the Paralympic Games in Paris 2024 (where he won the bronze). I hope to check my current condition and use this race as a starting point in preparation for the Paralympic Games in Los Angeles 2028.” Yutaka Kumagai (Mitsui Direct General Insurance Co., Ltd.) also commented with enthusiasm. “I’ve become used to this course having experienced it three times, including the Paralympic Games in Paris 2024. I hope to give it my all despite the fatigue from Paris.”
There is only one para-athlete in the women’s field, and Misato Michishita (Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Group) who won a bronze in the women’s marathon at the Paralympic Games in Paris 2024, shared her commitment. “It hasn’t been very long since I resumed practice after Paris, but my legs are in good condition, and I’m hoping to run at my own pace toward a consecutive win. I plan to make the most of my persistence in the second half of the race, by visualizing the second half of a full marathon.”
Each runner shared their own perspective about the appeal of the event. “The interaction with general entry runners.” (Michishita). “Being able to play off of other runners who have similar target times.” (Karasawa). “Good opportunity for the public to get to know runners with vision impairment and the Paralympics.” (Horikoshi). “Being able to compete on a level playing field without having to think about your disability.” (Kumagai).
Kaoru Shinjo of the Tokyo Marathon Foundation shared words of encouragement. “While it may have been challenging to prepare with only one and a half months after at the Paralympic Games in Paris 2024, this race is positioned as a legacy event of the Paralympic Games in Tokyo 2020 and has great meaning for the para-athletes who participated in 2020 Tokyo. The event operation team will fully support the athletes so that they can achieve their respective goals.”
The wheelchair race will start at 8:00 a.m. JST while the vision impairment division will start at 8:05 a.m. JST with the general entry runners. In addition to the elite and invited athletes, many other para-athletes are participating in the wheelchair race and vision impairment division as well as those with cerebral palsy, intellectual disabilities, and hearing disabilities. Please cheer them on as they strive for their individual goals.