Nanae Sasaki

Nanae Sasaki was one of the first successful female marathon runners in Japan. Running her first marathon in 1979, she came to prominence by breaking the Japanese record in the 1981 Boston Maraton. She further improved the record in 1982, while winning her first marathon, in Christchurch (New Zealand). A win in the 1983 Tokyo Marathon qualified her for the inaugural Olympic marathon for women in Los Angeles, where she placed 19th. She retired the following year, departing with a new personal best and a victory in the Nagoya Marathon. Sasaki later coached at her old club. She died at age 53 after a battle with rectal cancer.

Personal Best: Mar – 2-33:57 (1985).