Defending marathon Champion Mizuki Noguchi out of Beijing marathon

August 12, 2008

After Germanys Irina Mikitenko, a second race favorite had to withdraw from the Olympic marathon in Beijing only short before the actual race.
Defending Champion Mizuki Noguchi (JAP) informed the Japanese Team, that she can’t participate due to an injury in her left thigh muscle and her groin. Noguchi ran an Asian record in the Berlin marathon 2005 (2:19:12) and won the Gold medal of the Athens Olympic Games in 2004 (2:26:20).
So far no woman could defend an Olympic title and with the withdrawal of Noguchi this streak will continue.