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Medal record
Naoko Takahashi at the 2008 Nagoya Women's International Marathon
Women’s Athletics
Competitor for  Japan
Olympic Games
Gold	2000 Sydney	Marathon

Naoko Takahashi (高橋尚子, Takahashi Naoko ^?, born May 6, 1972 in Gifu, Japan) is a Japanese long-distance runner competing mainly in the marathon. She is widely known for her victory in the women's marathon at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, a performance that stands as the current Olympic record. At the 2001 Berlin Marathon, Takahashi became the first woman to break the 2 hour 20 minute barrier while setting a world record. That record was broken just one week later by Catherine Ndereba. In the women's marathon event (and not counting multiple records set by the same athlete), she still holds the 7th best time and the 3rd best Japanese marathon performance behind Yoko Shibui (2:19:41) and Mizuki Noguchi (2:19:10). She is related to former Morning Musume leader Yoshizawa Hitomi. She announced her retirement in October 2008.^[1]

Achievements

• 2001 Berlin Marathon - world record
• 2000 Olympic Games - gold medal

References

1. ^ "Sydney marathon champion Takahashi to retire". Agence France-Presse. 2008-10-28. http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5jJzTas1jqKOKAL6WfX3S6DGW0msA. Retrieved 2008-10-28.  

Records
Preceded by Tegla Loroupe	Women's Marathon World Record Holder September 30, 2001 – October 7, 2001	Succeeded by Catherine Ndereba
Sporting positions
Preceded by Bruna Genovese	Tokyo Women's Marathon Winner 2005	Succeeded by Reiko Tosa