Koji Ito
Encyclopedia
is a retired Japan
ese track and field
sprint
er. He is a former Asian record holder in the 100 metres
and 200 metres
, and still holds the indoor record as well as the 4×400 metres relay record.
He started out as a 400 metres
runner and after winning a bronze at the 1991 Asian Athletics Championships, he was selected for the relay at the 1991 World Championships in Athletics
and represented his country on home turf. In 1993 he won a bronze medal at the 1993 East Asian Games
and the 1993 Asian Athletics Championships. He managed to reach the quarter-finals of the 200 m of the World Championships
that year. His 1994 was highlighted by a silver medal
at his first Asian Games
in Hiroshima
.
He represented Japan at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics
and managed to reach the semifinals of the 200 m and helped the 4×400 m relay to secure fifth place in the final in an Asian record time. He won his first major championship title in 1997, winning the 200 m gold at the East Asian Games
, but he did not get past the heat stages at either the IAAF World Indoor Championships or the World Championships in Athletics.
The following year marked his career peak: he started with a win in the 200 m at the 1998 Asian Athletics Championships and went on to win a sprint double at the 1998 Asian Games
in Games record times. In winning the Asian Games 100 m crown on December 13, 1998 (Bangkok
) he became only the second athlete of non-African descent to clock a legal and recognizable (+1.9 wind; not at high altitude) time of 10.00 seconds, during a semi-final heat. (Poland
's Marian Woronin
first clocked 10.00 (with a maximum allowable +2.0 wind) at Warsaw
(thus not at high altitude) in 1984.) This time is still a Japanese national record
. He was the Most Valuable Player
of the 13th Asian Games.
Ito also clocked a personal best of 20.16 s in the 200 m on October 2, 1998 at Kumamoto, Japan
. He put in a strong performance at the 1999 World Indoor Championships
, just missing out on the 60 metres
final and running an Asian indoor record time for fifth place in the 200 m competition. At the 2000 Sydney Olympics, Ito finished seventh in the semi-finals in both the 100 m and 200 m events (10.39 s and 20.67 s respectively) ; the Japanese men's 4x100 m team (Nobuharu Asahara
, Koji Ito, Shigeyuki Kojima
, Shingo Suetsugu
) finished sixth in 38.66 s. Suetsugu later went on to follow in Ito's footsteps as Japan's top male sprinter. Ito never again matched the form of his high-water-mark 1998 season and retired in 2002.
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese track and field
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
sprint
Sprint (race)
Sprints are short running events in athletics and track and field. Races over short distances are among the oldest running competitions. The first 13 editions of the Ancient Olympic Games featured only one event—the stadion race, which was a race from one end of the stadium to the other...
er. He is a former Asian record holder in the 100 metres
100 metres
The 100 metres, or 100-metre dash, is a sprint race in track and field competitions. The shortest common outdoor running distance, it is one of the most popular and prestigious events in the sport of athletics. It has been contested at the Summer Olympics since 1896...
and 200 metres
200 metres
A 200 metres race is a sprint running event. On an outdoor 400 m track, the race begins on the curve and ends on the home straight, so a combination of techniques are needed to successfully run the race. A slightly shorter race, called the stadion and run on a straight track, was the first...
, and still holds the indoor record as well as the 4×400 metres relay record.
He started out as a 400 metres
400 metres
The 400 metres, or 400 metre dash, is a common sprinting event in track and field competitions. It has been featured in the athletics programme at the Summer Olympics since 1896 . On a standard outdoor running track, it is exactly one lap around the track. Runners start in staggered positions and...
runner and after winning a bronze at the 1991 Asian Athletics Championships, he was selected for the relay at the 1991 World Championships in Athletics
1991 World Championships in Athletics
The 3rd World Championships in Athletics, under the auspices of the International Association of Athletics Federations, were held in the Olympic Stadium in Tokyo, Japan between August 23 and September 1 and athletes from 167 countries participated in the event.The event is best-remembered for the...
and represented his country on home turf. In 1993 he won a bronze medal at the 1993 East Asian Games
Athletics at the 1993 East Asian Games
At the 1993 East Asian Games, the athletics events were held at the Yuanshen Sports Centre Stadium in Shanghai, People's Republic of China. A total of 41 events were contested, of which 22 by male and 19 by female athletes...
and the 1993 Asian Athletics Championships. He managed to reach the quarter-finals of the 200 m of the World Championships
1993 World Championships in Athletics
The 4th World Championships in Athletics, under the auspices of the International Association of Athletics Federations, were held in the Gottlieb Daimler Stadium, Stuttgart, Germany between August 13 and August 22 with the participation of 187 nations....
that year. His 1994 was highlighted by a silver medal
Silver medal
A silver medal is a medal awarded to the second place finisher of contests such as the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, and contests with similar formats....
at his first Asian Games
Athletics at the 1994 Asian Games
-Men's events:-Women's events:-Medal table:-External links:* - GBR Athletics...
in Hiroshima
Hiroshima
is the capital of Hiroshima Prefecture, and the largest city in the Chūgoku region of western Honshu, the largest island of Japan. It became best known as the first city in history to be destroyed by a nuclear weapon when the United States Army Air Forces dropped an atomic bomb on it at 8:15 A.M...
.
He represented Japan at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics
Athletics at the 1996 Summer Olympics
At the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, 44 events in athletics were contested, 24 by men and 20 by women. There were a total number of 2053 participating athletes from 191 countries.-Men:...
and managed to reach the semifinals of the 200 m and helped the 4×400 m relay to secure fifth place in the final in an Asian record time. He won his first major championship title in 1997, winning the 200 m gold at the East Asian Games
Athletics at the 1997 East Asian Games
At the 1997 East Asian Games, the athletics events were held at the Busan Gudeok Stadium in Busan, South Korea between 10–19 May. A total of 43 events were contested, of which 23 by male and 20 by female athletes....
, but he did not get past the heat stages at either the IAAF World Indoor Championships or the World Championships in Athletics.
The following year marked his career peak: he started with a win in the 200 m at the 1998 Asian Athletics Championships and went on to win a sprint double at the 1998 Asian Games
1998 Asian Games
The 13th Asian Games were held from December 6 to December 20, 1998 in Bangkok, Thailand. This was the first time that Thailand bid for the event after it shouldered the two postponed hosting rights in 1970 and 1978.-Emblem:...
in Games record times. In winning the Asian Games 100 m crown on December 13, 1998 (Bangkok
Bangkok
Bangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...
) he became only the second athlete of non-African descent to clock a legal and recognizable (+1.9 wind; not at high altitude) time of 10.00 seconds, during a semi-final heat. (Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
's Marian Woronin
Marian Woronin
Marian Jerzy Woronin is a retired Polish athlete who competed mainly in the 100 metres. He is a four-time European Indoor Champion in the 60 metres...
first clocked 10.00 (with a maximum allowable +2.0 wind) at Warsaw
Warsaw
Warsaw is the capital and largest city of Poland. It is located on the Vistula River, roughly from the Baltic Sea and from the Carpathian Mountains. Its population in 2010 was estimated at 1,716,855 residents with a greater metropolitan area of 2,631,902 residents, making Warsaw the 10th most...
(thus not at high altitude) in 1984.) This time is still a Japanese national record
Japanese records in athletics
The following are the national records in athletics in Japan maintained by Japan's Association of Athletics Federations .-Men:-Women:-Men:-Women:+ = en route to a longer distance# = not officially ratified...
. He was the Most Valuable Player
Most Valuable Player
In sports, a Most Valuable Player award is an honor typically bestowed upon the best performing player or players on a specific team, in an entire league, or for a particular contest or series of contests...
of the 13th Asian Games.
Ito also clocked a personal best of 20.16 s in the 200 m on October 2, 1998 at Kumamoto, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. He put in a strong performance at the 1999 World Indoor Championships
1999 IAAF World Indoor Championships
The 7th IAAF World Indoor Championships in Athletics were held in the Green Dome Maebashi stadium in Maebashi, Japan from March 5 to March 7, 1999. It was the first time the Championships were staged outside Europe or North America. Primo Nebiolo, president of the IAAF, characterized the...
, just missing out on the 60 metres
60 metres
60 metres is a sprint event in track and field athletics. It is a championship event for indoor championships, normally dominated by the best outdoor 100 metres runners. At outdoor venues it is a rare distance, at least for senior athletes...
final and running an Asian indoor record time for fifth place in the 200 m competition. At the 2000 Sydney Olympics, Ito finished seventh in the semi-finals in both the 100 m and 200 m events (10.39 s and 20.67 s respectively) ; the Japanese men's 4x100 m team (Nobuharu Asahara
Nobuharu Asahara
is a Japanese former athlete who specialized in the 100 metres and long jump. He won the 100 m at the Japanese national championship on five occasions in 1996, 1997, 2000, 2001 and 2002, and he took part in the Olympics four times in 1996, 2000, 2004 and 2008...
, Koji Ito, Shigeyuki Kojima
Shigeyuki Kojima
is a Japanese sprinter.-Achievements:-References:...
, Shingo Suetsugu
Shingo Suetsugu
is a Japanese sprinter. He is the Asian record holder in the 200 metres and 4×100 metres relay.Suetsugu won a bronze medal in the 200 metres event at the 2003 IAAF World Championships in a time of 20.38 seconds. The same year he set an Asian record of 20.03 seconds at the Japanese...
) finished sixth in 38.66 s. Suetsugu later went on to follow in Ito's footsteps as Japan's top male sprinter. Ito never again matched the form of his high-water-mark 1998 season and retired in 2002.
Achievements
| Representing | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Asian Athletics Championships 1991 Asian Championships in Athletics -Men's events:-Women's events:-Medal table:-External links:*... |
Kuala Lumpur Kuala Lumpur Kuala Lumpur is the capital and the second largest city in Malaysia by population. The city proper, making up an area of , has a population of 1.4 million as of 2010. Greater Kuala Lumpur, also known as the Klang Valley, is an urban agglomeration of 7.2 million... , Malaysia |
3rd | 400 m |
| World Championships 1991 World Championships in Athletics The 3rd World Championships in Athletics, under the auspices of the International Association of Athletics Federations, were held in the Olympic Stadium in Tokyo, Japan between August 23 and September 1 and athletes from 167 countries participated in the event.The event is best-remembered for the... |
Tokyo Tokyo , ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family... , Japan |
4th (heats) | 4×400 m relay | |
| 1993 | East Asian Games Athletics at the 1993 East Asian Games At the 1993 East Asian Games, the athletics events were held at the Yuanshen Sports Centre Stadium in Shanghai, People's Republic of China. A total of 41 events were contested, of which 22 by male and 19 by female athletes... |
Shanghai Shanghai Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010... , China |
3rd | 200 m |
| World Championships 1993 World Championships in Athletics The 4th World Championships in Athletics, under the auspices of the International Association of Athletics Federations, were held in the Gottlieb Daimler Stadium, Stuttgart, Germany between August 13 and August 22 with the participation of 187 nations.... |
Stuttgart Stuttgart Stuttgart is the capital of the state of Baden-Württemberg in southern Germany. The sixth-largest city in Germany, Stuttgart has a population of 600,038 while the metropolitan area has a population of 5.3 million .... , Germany |
6th (quarter-finals) | 200 m | |
| 7th (heats) | 4×100 m relay | |||
| Asian Athletics Championships 1993 Asian Championships in Athletics The 10th Asian Championships in Athletics were held in early December 1993 in Manila, Philippines.-Men's events:-Women's events:-Medal table:-External links:*... |
Manila Manila Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,... , Philippines |
3rd | 400 m | |
| 1994 | Asian Games Athletics at the 1994 Asian Games -Men's events:-Women's events:-Medal table:-External links:* - GBR Athletics... |
Hiroshima Hiroshima is the capital of Hiroshima Prefecture, and the largest city in the Chūgoku region of western Honshu, the largest island of Japan. It became best known as the first city in history to be destroyed by a nuclear weapon when the United States Army Air Forces dropped an atomic bomb on it at 8:15 A.M... , Japan |
2nd | 200 m |
| 1995 | World Indoor Championships 1995 IAAF World Indoor Championships The 5th IAAF World Indoor Championships in Athletics were held at the Palau Sant Jordi in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain from 10 March to 12 March 1995. There were a total number of 602 participating athletes from 130 countries.-Men:-Women:-Medal table:... |
Barcelona Barcelona Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of... , Spain |
5th (semis) | 200 m |
| World Championships 1995 World Championships in Athletics The 5th World Championships in Athletics, under the auspices of the International Association of Athletics Federations, were held at the Ullevi Stadium, Gothenburg, Sweden between August 5 and August 13.This edition featured 1804 athletes from 191 nations.... |
Gothenburg Gothenburg Gothenburg is the second-largest city in Sweden and the fifth-largest in the Nordic countries. Situated on the west coast of Sweden, the city proper has a population of 519,399, with 549,839 in the urban area and total of 937,015 inhabitants in the metropolitan area... , Sweden |
6th (quarter-finals) | 200 m 1995 World Championships in Athletics – Men's 200 metres These are the official results of the Men's 200 metres event at the 1995 IAAF World Championships in Gothenburg, Sweden. There were a total number of 72 participating athletes, with two semi-finals, four quarter-finals and nine qualifying heats and the final held on Friday... |
|
| 1996 | Summer Olympics Athletics at the 1996 Summer Olympics At the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, 44 events in athletics were contested, 24 by men and 20 by women. There were a total number of 2053 participating athletes from 191 countries.-Men:... |
Atlanta, United States | 6th (semis) | 200 m Athletics at the 1996 Summer Olympics – Men's 200 metres These are the official results of the men's 200 metres event at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia. There were a total number of 81 participating athletes , with two rounds , two semifinals and a final.-Medalists:-Records:These were the standing world and Olympic records prior to the... |
| DNF | 4×100 m relay | |||
| 5th (AR) | 4×400 m relay | |||
| 1997 | World Indoor Championships 1997 IAAF World Indoor Championships The 6th IAAF World Indoor Championships in Athletics were held at the Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy in Paris, France from March 7 to March 9, 1997. It was the first athletic championships to introduce women's pole vault... |
Paris Paris Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region... , France |
3rd (heats) | 60 m |
| 4th (heats) | 200 m | |||
| East Asian Games Athletics at the 1997 East Asian Games At the 1997 East Asian Games, the athletics events were held at the Busan Gudeok Stadium in Busan, South Korea between 10–19 May. A total of 43 events were contested, of which 23 by male and 20 by female athletes.... |
Busan, South Korea | 1st | 200 m | |
| World Championships 1997 World Championships in Athletics The 6th World Championships in Athletics, under the auspices of the International Association of Athletics Federations, were held at the Olympic Stadium, Athens, Greece between August 1 and August 10, 1997. In this event participated 1882 athletes from 198 participant nations... |
Athens Athens Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state... , Greece |
4th (heats) | 100 m 1997 World Championships in Athletics – Men's 100 metres These are the results of the Men's 100 metres event at the 1997 World Championships in Athletics in Athens, Greece.-Medalists:-Heats:First 3 of each Heat and the next 9 fastest qualified for the quarterfinals.-Quarterfinals:... |
|
| 4th (heats) | 200 m 1997 World Championships in Athletics – Men's 200 metres These are the results of the Men's 200 metres event at the 1997 World Championships in Athletics in Athens, Greece.-Medalists:-Heats:First 3 of each Heat and the next 5 fastest qualified for the quarterfinals.-Quarterfinals:... |
|||
| 1998 | Asian Athletics Championships 1998 Asian Championships in Athletics The 12th Asian Championships in Athletics were held in Fukuoka, Japan in July 1998.- Men :- Women :-Medal table:-External links:*... |
Fukuoka, Japan | 1st | 200 m |
| Asian Games Athletics at the 1998 Asian Games -Men's events:-Women's events:-Medal table:-External links:* - GBR Athletics... |
Bangkok Bangkok Bangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom... , Thailand |
1st | 100 m | |
| 1st | 200 m | |||
| IAAF World Cup | Johannesburg Johannesburg Johannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa... , South Africa |
4th | 200 m | |
| 1999 | World Indoor Championships 1999 IAAF World Indoor Championships The 7th IAAF World Indoor Championships in Athletics were held in the Green Dome Maebashi stadium in Maebashi, Japan from March 5 to March 7, 1999. It was the first time the Championships were staged outside Europe or North America. Primo Nebiolo, president of the IAAF, characterized the... |
Maebashi, Japan | 4th (semis) | 60 m 1999 IAAF World Indoor Championships – Men's 60 metres The men's 60 metres event at the 1999 IAAF World Indoor Championships was held on March 7.-Medalists:-Heats:First 2 of each heat and next 12 fastest qualified for the semifinals.-Semifinals:... |
| 5th (AR) | 200 m 1999 IAAF World Indoor Championships – Men's 200 metres The men's 200 metres event at the 1999 IAAF World Indoor Championships was held on March 5–6.-Medalists:-Heats:First 2 of each heat and next 5 fastest qualified for the semifinals.-Semifinals:... |
|||
| World Championships 1999 World Championships in Athletics The 7th World Championships in Athletics, under the auspices of the International Association of Athletics Federations, were held at the Estadio Olímpico, Seville, Spain, between the August 20 and August 29.... |
Seville Seville Seville is the artistic, historic, cultural, and financial capital of southern Spain. It is the capital of the autonomous community of Andalusia and of the province of Seville. It is situated on the plain of the River Guadalquivir, with an average elevation of above sea level... , Spain |
7th (quarter-finals) | 100 m 1997 World Championships in Athletics – Men's 100 metres These are the results of the Men's 100 metres event at the 1997 World Championships in Athletics in Athens, Greece.-Medalists:-Heats:First 3 of each Heat and the next 9 fastest qualified for the quarterfinals.-Quarterfinals:... |
|
| 6th (semis) | 200 m 1997 World Championships in Athletics – Men's 200 metres These are the results of the Men's 200 metres event at the 1997 World Championships in Athletics in Athens, Greece.-Medalists:-Heats:First 3 of each Heat and the next 5 fastest qualified for the quarterfinals.-Quarterfinals:... |
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| 4th (heats) | 4×400 m relay | |||
| 2000 | Summer Olympics Athletics at the 2000 Summer Olympics At the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, 46 events in athletics were contested, 24 for men and 22 for women. There were a total number of 2134 participating athletes from 193 countries.-Men's events:... |
Sydney Sydney Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people... , Australia |
7th (semis) | 100 m |
| 7th (semis) | 200 m | |||
| 6th | 4×100 m relay | |||