Kengo Suzuki goes to the final selection for the Paris Olympics: ``I'll give it my all''

Ahead of the Tokyo Marathon, which will be the last qualifying race for the men's marathon at the Paris Olympics, to be held on the 3rd, the participating athletes held a press conference, and Japanese record holder Kengo Suzuki said, ``I'm going to do my best with the power I have now.'' I want to make the most of it," he said with enthusiasm.

Two men were selected to represent the men's marathon at the Paris Olympics at the MGC = Marathon Grand Championship last October, and the Tokyo Marathon, the final selection race for the remaining spot, will be held on the 3rd.

The highest ranked athlete with a time faster than the set record of 2 hours 5 minutes 50 seconds, which is a condition for selection to the national team, will be selected to represent the team. If no athlete breaks this time, Suguru Osako, who finished 3rd at MGC, will be selected to represent the team. To do.

On the 1st, the participating athletes held a press conference in Tokyo, and among them, Suzuki, the 28-year-old Japanese record holder, said, ``After watching the Tokyo Olympics, I came to the Olympics thinking that the next Paris Olympics is the one. I want to do everything I can to make this tournament a connected one," he said with enthusiasm.

26-year-old Kazuki Yamashita, whose time is 2 hours, 5 minutes, 51 seconds, the third fastest in Japan's history, said, ``It's not easy, but it's easy for me to understand that if I set my personal best, I can break the record. I want to run without breaking my rhythm until the end," he said.

On the other hand, the women's race does not require Olympic representatives, but top-level athletes from Japan and abroad will participate, including 36-year-old Hitomi Shintani, who has the third-fastest time in Japan.

Shintani said, ``I've always had one goal in mind, and the people who support me have also come with the same thoughts, so I want to aim to break the Japanese record.I'm going to pursue my ideal run.'' I want to,” he said.

The race is scheduled to start in front of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building at 9:10 a.m. on the 3rd.