Suguru Osako, a former Japanese record holder in the men's marathon who announced his return to active duty in February this year, will participate in the ``All Japan Business Ekiden'', which will decide the best men's Ekiden in Japan on New Year's Day next year. I was.
31-year-old Osako broke the Japanese record for the men's marathon at the time and retired after finishing 6th at last year's Tokyo Olympics, but announced that he would return to active duty in February this year.
Osako, who is training in anticipation of participating in the Paris Olympics the year after next, held a remote interview on the 4th from the United States where he was staying.
Among them, Osako will participate in the "All Japan Business Ekiden" to determine the best men's Ekiden in Japan on New Year's Day next year as a player of "GMO Internet Group", which conducts Internet media business. I made it
If Osako participates in the corporate team Ekiden, it will be the first time in eight years since he won the section award in 2015 when he ran in the first section with the team he belonged to at the time.
Osako said, "I'm happy to be able to take on this challenge, and I think the tournament itself will get more attention.By creating an option for professionals to participate in the corporate team's ekiden, we will expand the range of athletes' activities in the future and make them more active in the world. I want to create an environment that makes it easier for them to spread their wings."
Osako is scheduled to run the New York City Marathon next month, his first marathon since his return.