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Shigeki Tanaka

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Athlete

The Resume

    (April 7, 1931-October 4, 2022)
    Born in Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan
    Long distance runner
    Won the Boston Marathon (1951)
    First Japanese winner of the event

Why he might be annoying:

    He was often described in the press as a survivor of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, but he actually witnessed the bombing from a village twenty miles away.
    The Boston Globe dubbed him ‘atomic boy,’ which he later said was a burden.
    During a series of welcoming ceremonies on the way to Boston, people threw money on stage for him and his fellow Japanese runners, which he said ‘felt pretty strange… like a beggar, almost.’
    Injuries kept him from competing in the 1952 Olympics.

Why he might not be annoying:

    The 1951 Boston Marathon was the first post-World War II athletic event in the U.S. to allow Japanese participants.
    Three other Japanese runners competed with him, and all finished in the top ten.
    His victory inspired a lasting enthusiasm for distance running in Japan.
    His Boston Marathon winner’s medal was stolen (May 5, 1998).
    He was given a replacement medal by the Boston Athletic Association (July 10, 1998).
    The original was then recovered in a police raid (July 22, 1998).
    The original and replacement medals are both on display at National Stadium in Tokyo.

Credit: C. Fishel


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Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 10 Votes: 40.0% Annoying