Japanese Runners Aim for First Marathon Gold in 8 Years
Listen to the story
Japanese runners Yuya Yoshida and Kazuki Yamashita took part in a major men's marathon race, as fans hoped for Japan's first gold medal in the event in eight years.
The race began early on Saturday morning, and Japanese broadcaster TBS showed live coverage of the event. Viewers reacted with surprise to the unusual scene at the start of the broadcast. Comments online included phrases like "I didn't expect this much" and descriptions of a "premium feeling" and something "fresh".
During the race, the leading group of male runners, which included Yamashita, passed the halfway point at 1 hour, 5 minutes, and 54 seconds. However, Yoshida fell behind the leaders at around the 17-kilometer mark, raising concern among fans about his chances.
Meanwhile, in a separate women's race being tracked alongside the men's event, the front-runner reached the 10-kilometer point in 36 minutes and 42 seconds.
The event was followed closely with live updates, as commentators and fans reported on the runners' progress throughout the morning. Japan's search for marathon gold has continued for eight years, making this race an important moment for the country's athletics fans.
Vocabulary6 words
- marathon
- a very long running race, about 42 kilometers
- premium
- special, high quality, better than usual
- halfway point
- the middle of a race, where half the distance is done
- broadcaster
- a company that shows programs on TV
- progress
- how far someone has moved forward
- athletics
- sports like running, jumping, and throwing
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Quiz
Answer key
1. Eight years 2. He fell behind around the 17-kilometer mark 3. True
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Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
Japanese runners Yuya Yoshida and Kazuki Yamashita took part in a major men's _____ race.
Fans hoped for Japan's first gold medal in the event in _____ years.
The race began early on _____ morning.
Japanese broadcaster TBS showed _____ coverage of the event.
Comments online included descriptions of a "_____ feeling" and something "fresh".
The leading group of male runners passed the halfway point at 1 hour, 5 minutes, and _____ seconds.
Yoshida fell behind the leaders at around the _____-kilometer mark.
The front-runner in the women's race reached the 10-kilometer point in 36 minutes and _____ seconds.
Japan's search for marathon gold has continued for eight years, making this race an important moment for the country's _____ fans.
Discussion questions
- Why do you think fans reacted with surprise to the TV broadcast?
- How important do you think it is for a country to win gold in a major sports event?
- What challenges do you think marathon runners face during a long race?
- Have you ever watched a live sports event that surprised you? What happened?
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