is a Japanese

long-distance runner Long-distance running, or endurance running, is a form of continuous running over distances of at least . Physiologically, it is largely Aerobic exercise, aerobic in nature and requires endurance, stamina as well as mental strength. Within e ...

who specializes in the

10,000 metres The 10,000 metres or the 10,000-metre run is a common long-distance track running event. The event is part of the athletics programme at the Olympic Games and the World Athletics Championships, and is common at championship level events. The race ...

half marathon A half marathon is a road running event of —half the distance of a marathon. It is common for a half marathon event to be held concurrently with a marathon or a 5K race, using almost the same course with a late start, an early finish or shortcu ...

and

marathon The marathon is a long-distance foot race with a distance of , usually run as a road race, but the distance can be covered on trail routes. The marathon can be completed by running or with a run/walk strategy. There are also wheelchair div ...

events.

Career

She won the silver medal in half marathon at the

1999 Summer Universiade The 1999 Summer Universiade, also known as the XX Summer Universiade, took place in Palma de Mallorca, Spain. Venues * Estadi Son Moix — athletics, football, ceremonies * Arena Son Moix — volleyball * Pavelló Son Hugo — swimming, diving, ...

. At the

2001 Summer Universiade The 2001 Summer Universiade, also known as the XXI Summer Universiade, was an international multi-sport event that took place in Beijing, China, between 22 August and 1 September. A total of 6,757 athletes from 165 nations took part in 12 sports ...

she finished eighth in the 5000 metres and won the bronze medal in the 10,000 metres. She finished twentieth in the 10,000 metres at the

2008 Olympic Games The 2008 Summer Olympics (), officially the Games of the XXIX Olympiad () and also known as Beijing 2008 (), were an international multisport event held from 8 to 24 August 2008, in Beijing, China. A total of 10,942 athletes from 204 Na ...

, but was less successful in the women's 5000 metres, failing to make the final. Her next global competition came at the

2009 World Championships in Athletics The 12th IAAF World Championships in Athletics () were held in Berlin, Germany from 15–23 August 2009. The majority of events took place in the Olympiastadion, while the marathon and racewalking events started and finished at the Brandenburg ...

, where she finished 31st in the World Championship marathon race.Nakamura, Ken (2010-01-29)
Can Akaba fulfill her marathon potential? - Osaka Ladies Marathon PREVIEW

IAAF World Athletics, formerly known as the International Amateur Athletic Federation (from 1912 to 2001) and International Association of Athletics Federations (from 2001 to 2019, both abbreviated as the IAAF) is the international governing body for ...

. Retrieved on 2010-03-23. She also ran at the

2009 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships The 2009 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships was held in Birmingham, United Kingdom on 11 October 2009. It was the final event of the International Association of Athletics Federations' 2009 World Athletics Series. Organisation The city of B ...

, but failed to make an impact in either the individual race or with the Japanese team. In the beginning of the 2010, she entered the

Osaka International Ladies Marathon The is an annual marathon road race for women over the classic distance of 42.195 kilometres which is held on the 4th or 5th Sunday of January in the city of Osaka, Japan, and hosted by Japan Association of Athletics Federations, Kansai T ...

as a possible podium contender, she dropped out mid-race. She soon returned to form, however, clocking a time of 1:11:09 for second place at the Matsue Ladies Half Marathon in March behind Kenyan Obare Doricah. Running at the 2010

London Marathon The London Marathon is an annual marathon held in London, United Kingdom, and is the 2nd largest annual road race in the UK, after the Great North Run in Newcastle. Founded by athletes Chris Brasher and John Disley in 1981, it is typically held ...

, she took sixth place with a time of 2:24:55, a personal best for the distance. She won her first race at the 2011 Osaka Marathon, although she did not achieve the time standard to make the Japanese World Championships team. She achieved this at the

2011 London Marathon The 2011 London Marathon was the 31st running of the annual marathon race in London, England, which took place on Sunday, 17 April. The elite men's race was won by Kenya's Emmanuel Kipchirchir Mutai in a course record time of 2:04:40 hours and ...

, taking sixth for a second year running but also achieving a personal best time of 2:24:09 hours. She was chosen to represent Japan at the

2011 World Championships in Athletics The 13th IAAF World Championships in Athletics () was an international athletics competition that was held in Daegu, South Korea. It started on 27 August 2011 and finished on 4 September 2011. The United States topped the medal standings in th ...

and took fifth place in the marathon. Akaba was eighth at the 2012

Nagoya Marathon The , named until the 2010 race, is an annual marathon race for female runners over the classic distance of 42 km and 195 metres, held in Nagoya, Japan in early March every year. It holds World Athletics Platinum road race status. It i ...

, but was chosen as the substitute for the Olympic team due to her World Championship performance. She didn't race at the Olympics, but won the Sanyo Women's Half Marathon later that year. Giving her fastest run since 2009, she won the 2013

All-Japan Corporate Team Half Marathon Championships is a name given to championships or governing bodies that are based in Japan. It may also refer to: Combat sport *All Japan Pro Wrestling * All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling *All Japan Kendo Federation * All Japan Ju-Jitsu International Federation ...

with a time of 68:59 minutes. She had her second best ever performance at the

2013 London Marathon The 2013 London Marathon was the 33rd running of the annual marathon race in London, England, which took place on Sunday, 21 April. The men's elite race was won by Ethiopia's Tsegaye Kebede and the women's race was won by Kenyan Priscah Jeptoo ...

, where her time of 2:24:43 hours was enough for third place. A course record of 2:27:17 hours followed at the

Gold Coast Marathon The Gold Coast Marathon is an annual road marathon on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia, first held in 1979. Marketed as "Australia's premier road race", the marathon is the only race in Australia to hold World Athletics Label status. ...

in Australia in July.Johnson, Len (2013-07-07)
Course records for Akaba and Kawauchi at Gold Coast Marathon
IAAF. Retrieved on 2013-07-29.

Achievements

*All results regarding marathon, unless stated otherwise

Personal bests

5000 metres The 5000 metres or 5000-metre run is a common long-distance running event in track and field, approximately equivalent to or . It is one of the track events in the Olympic Games and the World Championships in Athletics, run over laps of a stan ...

- 15:11.17 min (2005) *

- 31:15.34 min (2008) *

Half marathon A half marathon is a road running event of —half the distance of a marathon. It is common for a half marathon event to be held concurrently with a marathon or a 5K race, using almost the same course with a late start, an early finish or shortcu ...

- 1:08:11 min (2008) *

Marathon The marathon is a long-distance foot race with a distance of , usually run as a road race, but the distance can be covered on trail routes. The marathon can be completed by running or with a run/walk strategy. There are also wheelchair div ...

- 2:24:09 (2011)

References

External links

*
marathoninfo
{{DEFAULTSORT:Akaba, Yukiko 1979 births Living people Japanese athletics coaches Sportspeople from Tochigi Prefecture Japanese female long-distance runners Japanese female marathon runners Olympic athletes for Japan Athletes (track and field) at the 2008 Summer Olympics Universiade medalists in athletics (track and field) Universiade silver medalists for Japan Medalists at the 1999 Summer Universiade Medalists at the 2001 Summer Universiade World Athletics Championships athletes for Japan Japan Championships in Athletics winners 20th-century Japanese women 21st-century Japanese women 21st-century Japanese people