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Yoko Shibui Withdraws From World Championships Marathon With Likely Stress Fracture

http://mainichi.jp/enta/sports/general/track/news/20090820k0000e050009000c.html
http://mainichi.jp/enta/sports/news/20090821k0000m050127000c.html?link_id=REH04

translated by Mika Tokairin and Brett Larner

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After initial reports on Aug. 19, Rikuren officially confirmed on Aug. 20 that marathoner Yoko Shibui (30, Team Mitsui Sumitomo Kaijo) is withdrawing from the Aug. 23 World Championships women's marathon in Berlin, Germany. Shibui began experiencing discomfort in the upper right side of her right foot on Aug. 14. After arriving in Berlin, the discomfort developed into pain bad enough that Shibui consulted a doctor on Aug. 18. The diagnosis was a likely stress fracture of the 4th metatarsal.

Since alternate Tomo Morimoto (Team Tenmaya) is also injured and unable to run, Japan will field a team of only four runners: Yukiko Akaba (Team Hokuren), Yoshimi Ozaki (Team Daiichi Seimei), Yuri Kano (Second Wind AC), and Yoshiko Fujinaga (Team Shiseido). In the Beijing Olympics two marathoners, Mizuki Noguchi (Team Sysmex) and Satoshi Osaki (Team NTT Nishi Nihon) withdrew with injuries shortly before their races. Rikuren executive Keisuke Sawaki apologized to the public for Shibui's situation, saying, "Since Beijing I have been personally involved in overseeing athletes' condition, and I am very, very sorry this has happened."
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Comments

walt said…
sorry to read this. i had the impression she might be ready.
August 21, 2009 at 12:16 AM
Kevin said…
She's crazy. I thought this is what she really wanted after missing out in osaka and helsinki. They should tell Hara to run even though she's not on the team.
August 21, 2009 at 6:48 AM
Anonymous said…
Hey Kevin, why not tell them to get Naoko Takahashi to run? She's already there as a commentator.
August 21, 2009 at 5:46 PM
Kevin said…
There should be a replacement for shibui. They should picked Mizuho Nasukawa, Yumiko Hara, or Miki Ohira. It's much better for the japanese team if 5 runners show up
August 22, 2009 at 1:31 PM
Brett Larner said…
Morimoto was the replacement. She is injured too.
August 22, 2009 at 2:35 PM
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