M100 record holder died in Japanese tsunami, IAAF report says
This was sadly inevitable: News of how the Japanese catastrophe affected masters athletes in Japan: “The IAAF is deeply saddened to receive the news that Takashi Shimokawara, one of the legends of Japanese and world masters athletics, was a victim of the recent tsunami which devastated large areas of Japan. The current world record holder in the World Masters Athletics’ M100 age category in the Shot Put, Discus Throw and Javelin Throw SP, DT and JT, Takashi Shimokawara was found dead in Kamaishi city, Iwate prefecture, an area seriously struck by the force of the tsunami. Shimokawara, aged 104, held the following World records of M100. SP 10.72m, DT 5.11m JT 12.42m. The IAAF offers its sincerest sympathies and condolences to his family and friends.” Takashi was mentioned in a 2008 Times of London article, but ignore the porn headline. Thanks, Mary Woo, for calling the tragic news to our attention.
Takashi may have been the oldest track athlete in the world.
3 Responses
How very sad. I can well remember that life-affirming feeling when Ken’s site announced that there was now a WR for the 100m for M100. I never met this guy, or saw him run, but he inspired me all the same. Rest well Takashi-san.
Sad indeed 🙁
B$
Nice photo. We all would like to be doing so well at his age. He might have set many M110 records!!
Hats off to centegenarian WR setters! Great role models (we all think we might get back into it by
then, right?!…) Hard to comprehend that tsunami – tragic for so many. Best wishes to them.
Leave a Reply