NT
Naoko Takahashi

Photo: Steve Nelson—CC BY-SA 3.0

Naoko Takahashi

JPNJPNWomen
Birth dateMay 6, 1972
BirthplaceGifu, Japan
Height1.61 m
Weight52 kg

Naoko Takahashi (高橋 尚子, Takahashi Naoko; born May 6, 1972) is a Japanese retired long-distance runner and Olympic gold medal-winning marathoner. She won the gold medal in the marathon at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, and at the 2001 Berlin Marathon she became the first woman to complete a marathon in under 2 hours and 20 minutes.

Key facts
Marathon
2:19:46
#84 all-time
Half Marathon
1:08:55
#468 all-time
2009 season best
2:52:23
Mar 8, 2009 · Nagoya (JPN)
2009 season best
Medals
Olympic Games: 1 gold
Age
54 years old

As of Sep 19, 2026: Marathon 2:19:46 (#84 all-time), Half Marathon 1:08:55 (#468 all-time), 2009 season best 2:52:23 (Mar 8, 2009, Nagoya (JPN)) · Olympic Games: 1 gold · 54 years old

Performance Charts

Season bests

SeasonDisciplineResultWindDateTrendCompetitions
2009
Marathon
2:52:23-Mar 8, 2009
↓
Nagoya (JPN)
2008
Marathon
2:44:18-Mar 9, 2008
↓
Nagoya (JPN)
2006
Semi
1:12:00-Sep 17, 2006
↓
Philadelphia, PA (USA)
2006
Marathon
2:31:22-Nov 19, 2006
↓
Tokyo International Women’s Marathon
2005
Semi
1:10:30-Sep 4, 2005
↓
Virginia Beach, VA (USA)
2005
Marathon
2:24:39-Nov 20, 2005
↓
Tokyo International Women’s Marathon
2003
Marathon
2:27:21-Nov 16, 2003
↓
Tokyo International Women’s Marathon
2002
Marathon
2:21:49-Sep 29, 2002
↓
Berlin Marathon
2001
Semi
1:12:40-Feb 4, 2001
↓
Marugame (JPN)
2001
30Kilometr
1:41:57-Feb 18, 2001-Tokyo (JPN)
2001
Marathon
2:19:46-Sep 30, 2001
↓
Berlin Marathon
2000
Semi
1:08:55-Jan 23, 2000
↓
Chiba (JPN)
2000
Marathon
2:22:19-Mar 12, 2000
↓
Nagoya International Women's Marathon
1999
10Kilometr
33:53-May 31, 1999-Boulder, CO (USA)
1999
Semi
1:10:58-May 23, 1999
↓
Kurobe (JPN)
1998
5000m
15:21.15-May 9, 1998
↑
Osaka (JPN)
1998
10000m
31:55.95-May 5, 1998
↓
Mito (JPN)
1998
Marathon
2:21:47-Dec 6, 1998
↓
Bangkok (THA)
1997
5000m
15:23.64-May 10, 1997
↑
Osaka (JPN)
1997
10000m
39:30.00-May 5, 1997
↓
Mito (JPN)
1997
Semi
1:10:35-Mar 9, 1997
↓
Matsue (JPN)
1997
Marathon
2:31:32-Jan 26, 1997
↓
Osaka (JPN)
1996
5000m
15:37.15-Sep 16, 1996
↑
Tokyo (JPN)
1996
10000m
31:48.23-Jun 9, 1996
↓
Japanese Championships

2009

1 performance
DisciplineResultWindDateCompetitions
Marathon
2:52:23-Mar 8Nagoya International Women's Marathon, Nagoya

2008

1 performance
DisciplineResultWindDateCompetitions
Marathon
2:44:18-Mar 9Nagoya International Women's Marathon, Nagoya

2006

2 performances
DisciplineResultWindDateCompetitions
Marathon
2:31:22-Nov 19Tokyo International Women’s Marathon
Semi
1:12:00-Sep 17Philadelphia Distance Run Half Marathon, Philadelphia, PA

2005

4 performances
DisciplineResultWindDateCompetitions
Marathon
2:24:39-Nov 20Tokyo International Women’s Marathon
Semi
1:11:28-Sep 18Philadelphia Half Marathon, Philadelphia, PA
Semi
1:10:30-Sep 4Virginia Beach Rock'n'Roll Half Marathon, Virginia Beach, VA
Semi
1:26:16-Jan 23Chiba Marine Half Marathon, Chiba

2003

1 performance
DisciplineResultWindDateCompetitions
Marathon
2:27:21-Nov 16Tokyo International Women’s Marathon

2002

1 performance
DisciplineResultWindDateCompetitions
Marathon
2:21:49-Sep 29Berlin Marathon

2001

3 performances
DisciplineResultWindDateCompetitions
Marathon
2:19:46-Sep 30Berlin Marathon
30Kilometr
1:41:57-Feb 18Tokyo Ohme-Hochi 30 km, Tokyo
Semi
1:12:40-Feb 4Marugame Half Marathon, Marugame

2000

5 performances
DisciplineResultWindDateCompetitions
Marathon
2:23:14-Sep 24The XXVII Olympic Games
Marathon
2:23:14-Sep 22The XXVII Olympic Games
Semi
1:09:10-Jul 2Sapporo Half Marathon, Sapporo
Marathon
2:22:19-Mar 12Nagoya International Women's Marathon
Semi
1:08:55-Jan 23Chiba Half Marathon, Chiba

1999

3 performances
DisciplineResultWindDateCompetitions
Marathon
DNS-Aug 21IAAF World Championships, La Cartuja, Sevilla
10Kilometr
33:53-May 31Boulder 10 km, Boulder, CO
Semi
1:10:58-May 23Kurobe Half Marathon, Kurobe

1998

8 performances
DisciplineResultWindDateCompetitions
Marathon
2:21:47-Dec 6Bangkok Asian Games, Bangkok
10000m
31:57.99-Jun 14Naruto
5000m
15:28.25-Jun 14Naruto
10000m
31:57.99-Jun 12-
5000m
15:21.15-May 9Osaka Japan Grand Prix, Osaka
10000m
31:55.95-May 5Mito
5000m
15:28.31-Apr 29Hiroshima Mikio Oda Memorial, Hiroshima
Marathon
2:25:48-Mar 8Nagoya International Women's Marathon, Nagoya

1997

12 performances
DisciplineResultWindDateCompetitions
5000m
15:39.22-Oct 29Osaka
5000m
15:35.42-Oct 3Japanese Championships, Tokyo
5000m
15:32.83-Aug 9IAAF World Championships, Olympic Stadium, Athina
5000m
15:32.25-Aug 7IAAF World Championships, Olympic Stadium, Athina
5000m
15:32.25-Aug 2IAAF World Championships, Olympic Stadium, Athina
5000m
15:32.83-Aug 2IAAF World Championships, Olympic Stadium, Athina
5000m
15:29.11-Jul 13Sapporo
5000m
15:23.64-May 10Osaka Japan Grand Prix, Osaka
10000m
39:30.00-May 5Mito
5000m
15:34.04-Apr 29Hiroshima Mikio Oda Memorial, Hiroshima
Semi
1:10:35-Mar 9Half Marathon, Matsue
Marathon
2:31:32-Jan 26Osaka International Ladies Marathon, Osaka

1996

5 performances
DisciplineResultWindDateCompetitions
10000m
32:02.81-Oct 5-
5000m
15:37.15-Sep 16Tokyo Toto Super Meet, Tokyo
10000m
31:48.23-Jun 9Japanese Championships
5000m
15:48.10-Apr 21Narashino
10000m
32:50.90-Apr 7Narashino

Honours

🥇

Tokyo International Women’s Marathon

Marathon

2005
🥇

Berlin Marathon

Marathon

2002
🥇

Berlin Marathon

Marathon

2001
🥇

Nagoya International Women's Marathon

Marathon

2000
🥇

The XXVII Olympic Games

Marathon

2000
🥇

Bangkok Asian Games

Marathon

1998
FAQ

Frequently asked questions

What is Naoko Takahashi's Marathon personal best?

Naoko Takahashi's Marathon personal best is 2:19:46, set on Sep 30, 2001 in Berlin (GER), #84 on the all-time list.

Which events does Naoko Takahashi compete in?

Naoko Takahashi competes in the Marathon and Half Marathon.

How did Naoko Takahashi perform in 2009?

2009 season best: 2:52:23, set on Mar 8, 2009 in Nagoya (JPN).

How many medals has Naoko Takahashi won?

Naoko Takahashi has won 1 Olympic Games medal.