Yuki Kawauchi
Kawauchi in 2018
Personal information
Born (1987-03-05) 5 March 1987 (age 36)
Setagaya-ku, Tokyo, Japan
Height1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Weight62 kg (137 lb; 9.8 st)
Sport
Country Japan
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)Half marathon: 1:02:18
Marathon: 2:07:27
Medal record
Representing  Japan
World Marathon Majors
Gold medal – first place 2018 Boston Marathon
World Athletics Championships
Silver medal – second place 2011 Daegu Team
Asian Games
Bronze medal – third place 2014 Incheon Marathon

Yuki Kawauchi (川内優輝, Kawauchi Yūki, born 5 March 1987) is a Japanese marathon runner. He came to prominence after running the 2011 Tokyo Marathon in 2:08:37, finishing as the first Japanese citizen and third overall.[1] He was known as the "citizen runner" given that he used to work full-time for the government of Saitama Prefecture and trained in his time off with his own expenses without any sponsorship. Kawauchi won the 2018 Boston Marathon. In 2020, he left his job in local government and became a full-time professional runner.[2]

Kawauchi is a frequent competitor, entering many races each year (averaging a marathon per month) ranging in distance from the 1500 m to the 50 km ultramarathon. Among his better performances are victories at the Boston Marathon, the Hokkaido Marathon and the Beppu-Ōita Marathon and top-three finishes at the Tokyo Marathon and Fukuoka Marathon (the two most important marathons in Japan). His personal best for the distance is 2:07:27 (Lake Biwa 2021). Guinness World Records has recognized Kawauchi for becoming the first person to run more than 100 sub-2:20 marathons.[3]

In spite of being an amateur, he has represented Japan internationally at the World Championships in Athletics and the IAAF World Half Marathon Championships. He has two younger brothers, Yoshiki and Koki Kawauchi, who are also marathon runners.[4]

Career

Early years

Born in Setagaya, Tokyo,[5] Kawauchi began running from a young age: first he practiced with his mother and later with the track teams at high school. While he was there, the combination of an injury and the premature death of his father limited his running. Nevertheless, he continued to enjoy the sport at a lower level while studying at Gakushuin University. After graduation, he did not receive much interest from corporate running teams–-the typical route to professional running in Japan. He decided to continue running for pleasure, entering races and paying his own expenses.[1]

He finished third at the 2008 Ageo Half Marathon in a time of 1:03:22 and began to compete in marathons the following year. He gradually improved his times in 2009. In his debut at the Beppu-Ōita Marathon , he finished 20th in 2:19:26. He bettered this with a time of 2:18:18 for 19th at the Tokyo Marathon a month later, then managed 13th at the Fukuoka Marathon in December in a time of 2:17:33.[6] He began to break into the upper echelons of the national scene at the 2010 Tokyo Marathon, where he claimed fourth place in a personal-best time of 2:12:36.[7] Despite this improvement, he was further down the field at the Fukuoka race, finishing tenth in 2:17:54.[8]

2011 season

Kawauchi improved his half-marathon best to 1:02:40 at the Kagawa Marugame Half Marathon in February 2011, finishing in the top 10.[9] He set his sights on a top-eight finish at the Tokyo Marathon later that month but exceeded his own expectations by running a time of 2:08:37 and taking third place. As the best Japanese performer, he earned selection for the 2011 World Championships in Athletics.[10]

In June, he entered the Okinoshima Ultramarathon and led the 50 km race right up to the last 600 metres, at which point he collapsed due to heat stroke. He failed to finish.[11] At the World Championship Marathon held in Daegu he finished 18th-–a performance that helped the Japanese team including Hiroyuki Horibata and Kentaro Nakamoto to a silver medal in the 2011 World Marathon Cup.[12] He competed extensively toward the end of the year and his form held: he managed fourth at the Osaka Marathon, then took third at the Fukuoka Marathon. The latter was an Olympic qualifying race, and he was the highest-finishing Japanese. The Japan Association of Athletics Federations played down his selection choices, saying that his time of 2:09:57 was not fast enough, but Kawauchi upturned tradition by saying the race was a warm-up for the second qualifier in Tokyo. (Japanese runners rarely enter both selection races due to their proximity in the running calendar.)[13] Only two weeks later, Kawauchi entered the Hofu Marathon and was runner-up behind Mongolia's Serod Bat-Ochir. He remarked that the fatigue from the previous race had hurt his chances of winning.[14]

2012 season

At the start of 2012, Kawauchi ran a half-marathon best of 1:02:18 in Marugame, but his unorthodox decision to race frequently ruined his chances of Olympic selection, as he finished fourteenth with a time of 2:12:51 at February's Tokyo Marathon. He called his own performance "disgraceful" and shaved his head to make amends for disappointing his supporters.[15] This did not deter Kawauchi from following his own running plan, however, and he entered nine marathons that year, winning five of them. He took the top honors at the Kasumigaura Marathon, Hokkaido Marathon, Sydney Marathon, Chiba Aqualine Marathon and Hofu Marathon.[6] Kawauchi's return to Okinoshima produced a course-record victory in 2:51:45 at the 50 km race.[16] On top of his marathon running, Kawauchi ran six half-marathons, including top-three finishes in Shizuoka and Ageo as well as 21st place at the 2012 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships.[6] Following the advice of the late New Zealand running coach Arthur Lydiard, he said that focusing on distance work would improve his speed, rather than the inverse speed training favored by his contemporaries. Demonstrating this philosophy, he ran personal bests for the 1500 meters and the 5000 meters in September, recording times of 3:50.51 and 13:58.62 at a Nittai University track meet.[17]

Kawauchi's fastest marathon time of the year was 2:10:29, which earned him sixth place at the Fukuoka Marathon.[18] Repeating his schedule from the previous year, he ran in Hofu two weeks later; this time he won the race. His 2:10:46 gave him the record for the shortest period of time between two sub-2:11 marathons by any runner. Responding to questions about his frequent racing, he said that he wanted "to find out whether the common sense of the running world is really any kind of sense at all."[19]

2013 season

Kawauchi (left) at the 2013 World Championships.

The organizers of the 2013 Egyptian Marathon agreed to pay his travel expenses for the January race, but Kawauchi missed his flight after arriving at the airport without his passport. He decided to pay 800,000 yen (US$9,000) for a replacement flight – an amount that equated to a quarter of his yearly salary.[20] The decision paid off as he reached the starting line for the marathon and won with a time of 2:12:24—the fastest ever for a race in Egypt.[21] Less than three weeks later he ran at the Beppu-Ōita Marathon and reached the top of the Japanese rankings by winning the race in a personal best of 2:08:15, breaking Gert Thys's 17-year-old course record in the process. In spite of the many races, his passion was not dimmed: "after 21 Marathon runs, I can now say with confidence how fun Marathon running can be".[22] He beat a number of professional runners at the Kumanichi 30 km Road Race two weeks later, finishing in 1:29:31—another course record and a personal-best time.[23] The race organizers said a 30,000 increase in spectators that year was due to Kawauchi's popularity with the Japanese public: the runner had received invitations to more than 100 races.[24]

Kawauchi achieved further success in 2013. He broke his personal best by one second with a fourth-place finish at the Seoul International Marathon.[25] Cold conditions at the Nagano Marathon put a stop to an attempt to be the first person to run three sub-2:09 marathons in consecutive months, but he still managed to win the race, becoming the first Japanese winner since 1999.[26] He equalled Nicholas Manza's course record to win the Gold Coast Marathon in July.[27]

2018 Boston Marathon

Kawauchi won the 2018 Boston Marathon with a time of 2:15:58, becoming the first Japanese winner since 1987. After leading early at world record pace and repeatedly surging throughout the race, at mile 25 Kawauchi passed defending champion Geoffrey Kirui to achieve his first major marathon win.[28] He overcame extremely difficult weather conditions, including heavy rain, strong headwinds, and temperatures near 40 °F (4 °C) throughout the race. Despite this, he attributed his victory to those conditions, stating that "for me, these are the best conditions possible."[29] Kawauchi's Boston win was his world record 79th marathon under 2:20:00.[30] After returning to Japan following his Boston Marathon win, Kawauchi told reporters that he would quit his job as a high school administration office worker and turn pro in April 2019.[31]

International competitions

Representing  Japan
Year Competition Venue Position Event Notes
2011 World Championships Daegu, South Korea 18th Marathon 2:16:11
2nd Team 6:41:13
2012 World Half Marathon Championships Kavarna, Bulgaria 21st Half marathon 1:04:04
9th Team 3:14:33
2013 World Championships Moscow, Russia 18th Marathon 2:15:35
2014 Asian Games Incheon, South Korea 3rd Marathon 2:12:42
2017 World Championships London, United Kingdom 9th Marathon 2:12:19
2019 World Championships Doha, Qatar 29th Marathon 2:17:59

Half Marathon Results

Year Competition Venue Position Event Notes
2007 National University Half Marathon Tokyo, Japan 63rd Half Marathon 1:05:39
2007 Kanto Region University Half Marathon Div. 2 Tokyo, Japan 3rd Half Marathon 1:05:40
2008 National University Half Marathon Tokyo, Japan 6th Half Marathon 1:03:38
2008 Kanto Region University Half Marathon Div. 2 Tokyo, Japan 9th Half Marathon 1:05:43
2008 Ageo City Half Marathon Saitama, Japan 3rd Half Marathon 1:03:22
2009 National University Half Marathon Tokyo, Japan 15th Half Marathon 1:03:13
2009 Ageo City Half Marathon Saitama, Japan 14th Half Marathon 1:04:45
2010 Tanigawa Mari Half Marathon Tokyo, Japan 1st Half Marathon 1:06:49
2010 Kagawa Marugame International Half Marathon Kagawa, Japan 28th Half Marathon 1:03:28
2010 Sendai International Half Marathon Miyagi, Japan 14th Half Marathon 1:05:08
2010 Ageo City Half Marathon Saitama, Japan 13th Half Marathon 1:03:48
2011 Kagawa Marugame International Half Marathon Kagawa, Japan 9th Half Marathon 1:02:40
2011 Gifu Seiryu Half Marathon Gifu, Japan 13th Half Marathon 1:04:44
2011 Sapporo International Half Marathon Hokkaido, Japan 63rd Half Marathon 1:07:12
2011 Shibetsu Half Marathon Hokkaido, Japan 4th Half Marathon 1:06:24
2011 Ageo City Half Marathon Saitama, Japan 18th Half Marathon 1:04:13
2012 Tanigawa Mari Half Marathon Tokyo, Japan 2nd Half Marathon 1:06:19
2012 Kagawa Marugame International Half Marathon Kagawa, Japan 27th Half Marathon 1:02:18
2012 Saitama City Half Marathon Saitama, Japan 1st Half Marathon 1:04:29
2012 Yaizu Minato Half Marathon Shizuoka, Japan 2nd Half Marathon 1:03:48
2012 Sendai International Half Marathon Miyagi, Japan 4th Half Marathon 1:03:49
2012 Gifu Seiryu Half Marathon Gifu, Japan 12th Half Marathon 1:04:13
2012 Kurobe Meisui Half Marathon Toyama, Japan 2nd Half Marathon 1:05:38
2012 Sakuranbo Half Marathon Yamagata, Japan 1st Half Marathon 1:05:34
2012 Shibetsu Half Marathon Hokkaido, Japan 1st Half Marathon 1:05:00
2012 Nihonkai Melon Half Marathon Akita, Japan 1st Half Marathon 1:06:15
2012 World Half Marathon Championships Kavarna, Bulgaria 21st Half marathon 1:04:04
2012 Joshu Ota Subaru Half Marathon Saitama, Japan 1st Half Marathon 1:05:55
2012 Ageo City Half Marathon Saitama, Japan 3rd Half Marathon 1:03:02
2013 Tanigawa Mari Half Marathon Tokyo, Japan 1st Half Marathon 1:05:31
2013 Kanaguri Hai Tamana Half Marathon Kumamoto, Japan 2nd Half Marathon 1:03:12
2013 Saitama City Half Marathon Saitama, Japan 1st Half Marathon 1:05:52
2013 Honjo Waseda no Mori Half Marathon Saitama, Japan 1st Half Marathon 1:06:28
2013 Kasukabe Odako Half Marathon Saitama, Japan 10th Half Marathon no time recorded
2013 Toyohiragawa Half Marathon Hokkaido, Japan 1st Half Marathon 1:05:45
2013 Sendai International Half Marathon Miyagi, Japan 10th Half Marathon 1:03:30
2013 Gifu Seiryu Half Marathon Gifu, Japan 14th Half Marathon 1:05:05
2013 Kurobe Meisui Half Marathon Toyama, Japan 1st Half Marathon 1:03:58
2013 Shibetsu Half Marathon Hokkaido, Japan 22nd Half Marathon 1:06:45
2013 Great North Run Half Marathon United Kingdom 8th Half Marathon 1:04:08
2013 Hakodate Half Marathon Hokkaido, Japan 4th Half Marathon 1:04:51
2013 Hirosaki Shirakami Apple Half Marathon Aomori, Japan 1st Half Marathon 1:04:42
2013 Inawashiroko Half Marathon Fukushima, Japan 1st Half Marathon 1:07:53
2013 Ageo City Half Marathon Saitama, Japan 20th Half Marathon 1:03:06
2013 Koedo Kawagoe Half Marathon Saitama, Japan 1st Half Marathon 1:04:44
2014 Tanigawa Mari Half Marathon Tokyo, Japan 2nd Half Marathon 1:04:17
2014 Okukuma Road Race Kumamoto, Japan 2nd Half Marathon 1:03:40
2014 Nagoya City Half Marathon Aichi, Japan 2nd Half Marathon 1:04:17
2014 Saitama City Half Marathon Saitama, Japan 1st Half Marathon 1:04:49
2014 Ogori Road Race Fukuoka, Japan 1st Half Marathon 1:05:21
2014 Incheon International Half Marathon Incheon, South Korea 5th Half Marathon 1:06:04
2014 Yaizu Minato Half Marathon Shizuoka, Japan 9th Half Marathon 1:04:19
2014 Sendai International Half Marathon Miyagi, Japan 4th Half Marathon 1:03:23
2014 Gifu Seiryu Half Marathon Gifu, Japan 11th Half Marathon 1:03:48
2014 Nihonkai Melon Half Marathon Akita, Japan 1st Half Marathon 1:06:28
2014 Hoppo Ryodo Nosappu Misaki Half Marathon Hokkaido, Japan 1st Half Marathon 1:06:12
2014 Kitami Half Marathon Hokkaido, Japan 1st Half Marathon 1:04:33
2014 Chiba Aqualine Half Marathon Chiba, Japan 1st Half Marathon 1:04:22
2014 Ageo City Half Marathon Saitama, Japan 10th Half Marathon 1:02:55
2014 Koedo Kawagoe Half Marathon Saitama, Japan 2nd Half Marathon 1:03:39
2015 Okukuma Road Race Kumamoto, Japan 9th Half Marathon 1:04:44
2015 Fukaya City Half Marathon Saitama, Japan 43rd Half Marathon 1:13:36
2015 Tachikawa City Half Marathon Tokyo, Japan 47th Half Marathon 1:07:19
2015 Kanaguri Hai Tamana Half Marathon Kumamoto, Japan 24th Half Marathon 1:06:37
2015 Kumagaya Sakura Half Marathon Saitama, Japan 1st Half Marathon 1:04:41
2015 Nerima Kobushi Half Marathon Tokyo, Japan 1st Half Marathon 1:05:39
2015 Honjo Waseda no Mori Half Marathon Saitama, Japan 1st Half Marathon 1:07:47
2015 Sado Toki Half Marathon Niigata, Japan 1st Half Marathon 1:06:16
2015 Asagiriko Half Marathon Ehime, Japan 1st Half Marathon 1:07:23
2015 Kasukabe Odako Half Marathon Saitama, Japan 1st Half Marathon 1:07:03
2015 Toyohiragawa Half Marathon Hokkaido, Japan 1st Half Marathon 1:09:23
2015 Sendai International Half Marathon Miyagi, Japan 30th Half Marathon 1:08:36
2015 Gifu Seiryu Half Marathon Gifu, Japan 24th Half Marathon 1:06:16
2015 Venus Half Marathon Gifu, Japan 1st Half Marathon 1:10:39
2015 Okushiri Moonlight Half Marathon Hokkaido, Japan 1st Half Marathon 1:05:04
2015 Hoppo Ryodo Nosappu Misaki Half Marathon Hokkaido, Japan 1st Half Marathon 1:07:01
2015 Nijuken Doro Half Marathon Hokkaido, Japan 1st Half Marathon 1:05:32
2015 Ageo City Half Marathon Saitama, Japan 5th Half Marathon 1:03:11
2016 Okukuma Road Race Kumamoto, Japan 2nd Half Marathon 1:04:00
2016 Kuki Half Marathon Saitama, Japan 3rd Half Marathon 1:06:42 - wearing 3-piece suit
2016 Nerima Kobushi Half Marathon Tokyo, Japan 1st Half Marathon 1:05:32
2016 Yaizu Minato Half Marathon Shizuoka, Japan 1st Half Marathon 1:03:47
2016 Kawauchi no Sato Kaeru Half Marathon Fukushima, Japan 1st Half Marathon 1:05:42
2016 Sendai International Half Marathon Miyagi, Japan 5th Half Marathon 1:04:35
2016 Gifu Seiryu Half Marathon Gifu, Japan 11th Half Marathon 1:03:39
2016 Hakodate Half Marathon Hokkaido, Japan 5th Half Marathon 1:04:24
2016 Shibetsu Half Marathon Hokkaido, Japan 16th Half Marathon 1:06:10
2016 Hoppo Ryodo Nosappu Misaki Half Marathon Hokkaido, Japan 1st Half Marathon 1:05:34
2016 Imabari Half Marathon Ehime, Japan 1st Half Marathon 1:06:32
2016 Chiba Aqualine Half Marathon Chiba, Japan 2nd Half Marathon 1:06:26
2016 Ageo City Half Marathon Saitama, Japan 973rd Half Marathon 1:34:26
2017 Ikinoshima Half Marathon Nagasaki, Japan 1st Half Marathon 1:06:35
2017 Okukuma Road Race Kumamoto, Japan 6th Half Marathon 1:04:17
2017 Soja Kibiji Half Marathon Okayama, Japan 2nd Half Marathon 1:04:52
2017 Kanaguri Hai Tamana Half Marathon Kumamoto, Japan 3rd Half Marathon 1:03:19
2017 Tanegashima Rocket Half Marathon Kagoshima, Japan 1st Half Marathon 1:04:43
2017 Kuki Half Marathon Saitama, Japan 1st Half Marathon 1:05:03 - wore his JHS uniform
2017 Kamisatomachi Kenmu Half Marathon Saitama, Japan 1st Half Marathon 1:05:33
2017 Gifu Seiryu Half Marathon Gifu, Japan 15th Half Marathon 1:04:06
2017 Kawauchi no Sato Kaeru Half Marathon Fukushima, Japan 1st Half Marathon 1:05:31
2017 Sendai International Half Marathon Miyagi, Japan 11th Half Marathon 1:03:29
2017 Kinshuko Half Marathon Iwate, Japan 1st Half Marathon 1:05:22
2017 Asahikawa Half Marathon Hokkaido, Japan 1st Half Marathon 1:05:06
2017 Ageo City Half Marathon Saitama, Japan 18th Half Marathon 1:03:35
2017 Ogawa Washi Half Marathon Saitama, Japan 1st Half Marathon 1:04:05
2018 Okukuma Road Race Kumamoto, Japan 7th Half Marathon 1:03:28
2018 Fukaya City Half Marathon Saitama, Japan 1st Half Marathon 1:04:26
2018 Kanaguri Hai Tamana Half Marathon Kumamoto, Japan 12th Half Marathon 1:04:49
2018 Yoshinogawa Riverside Half Marathon Tokushima, Japan 1st Half Marathon 1:05:50
2018 Kuki Half Marathon Saitama, Japan 2nd Half Marathon 1:10:03 - wore panda costume
2018 Gifu Seiryu Half Marathon Gifu, Japan 14th Half Marathon 1:04:35
2018 Kawauchi no Sato Kaeru Half Marathon Fukushima, Japan 1st Half Marathon 1:05:56
2018 Kasukabe Otako Half Marathon Saitama, Japan 2nd Half Marathon 1:05:45
2018 Toyohiragawa Half Marathon Hokkaido, Japan 1st Half Marathon 1:06:39
2018 Sendai International Half Marathon Miyagi, Japan 7th Half Marathon 1:03:41
2018 Kinshuko Half Marathon Iwate, Japan 1st Half Marathon 1:07:49
2018 Nemuro Seaside Half Marathon Hokkaido, Japan 1st Half Marathon 1:06:39

Marathon results

Year Competition Venue Position Event Notes
2009 Beppu-Oita Mainichi Marathon Oita, Japan 20th Marathon 2:19:26
2009 Tokyo Marathon Tokyo, Japan 19th Marathon 2:18:18
2009 Fukuoka International Marathon Fukuoka, Japan 13th Marathon 2:17:33
2010 Tokyo Marathon Tokyo, Japan 4th Marathon 2:12:36
2010 Fukuoka International Marathon Fukuoka, Japan 10th Marathon 2:17:56
2011 Tokyo Marathon Tokyo, Japan 3rd Marathon 2:08:37
2011 World Championships Daegu, South Korea 18th Marathon 2:16:11
2011 Osaka Marathon Osaka, Japan 4th Marathon 2:14:31
2011 Fukuoka International Marathon Fukuoka, Japan 3rd Marathon 2:09:57
2011 Hofu Yomiuri Marathon Hōfu, Japan 2nd Marathon 2:12:33
2012 Tokyo Marathon Tokyo, Japan 14th Marathon 2:12:51
2012 Kasumigaura Marathon Kasumigaura, Japan 1st Marathon 2:22:38
2012 Düsseldorf Marathon Düsseldorf, Germany 8th Marathon 2:12:58
2012 Gold Coast Marathon Gold Coast, Australia 4th Marathon 2:13:26
2012 Hokkaido Marathon Sapporo, Japan 1st Marathon 2:18:38
2012 Sydney Marathon Sydney, Australia 1st Marathon 2:11:52
2012 Chiba Aqualine Marathon Chiba, Japan 1st Marathon 2:17:48
2012 Fukuoka International Marathon Fukuoka, Japan 6th Marathon 2:10:29
2012 Hofu Yomiuri Marathon Hofu, Japan 1st Marathon 2:10:46
2013 Luxor Marathon Luxor, Egypt 1st Marathon 2:12:24
2013 Beppu-Oita Mainichi Marathon Oita, Japan 1st Marathon 2:08:15
2013 Seoul International Marathon Seoul, South Korea 4th Marathon 2:08:14
2013 Nagano Marathon Nagano, Japan 1st Marathon 2:14:27
2013 Chitose Marathon Chitose, Japan 1st Marathon 2:18:29
2013 Gold Coast Marathon Gold Coast, Australia 1st Marathon 2:10:01
2013 World Championships Moscow, Russia 18th Marathon 2:15:35
2013 Melbourne Marathon Melbourne, Australia 2nd Marathon 2:11:40
2013 New York City Marathon New York City, United States 11th Marathon 2:12:29
2013 Fukuoka International Marathon Fukuoka, Japan 3rd Marathon 2:09:05
2013 Hofu Yomiuri Marathon Hofu, Japan 2nd Marathon 2:09:15
2014 Kumamotojo Marathon Kumamoto, Japan 1st Marathon 2:10:14
2014 Lake Biwa Mainichi Marathon Ōtsu, Japan 4th Marathon 2:10:38
2014 Saga Sakura Marathon Saga, Japan 1st Marathon 2:13:02
2014 Tokushima Marathon Tokushima, Japan 1st Marathon 2:15:25
2014 Hamburg Marathon Hamburg, Germany 9th Marathon 2:09:36
2014 Chitose Marathon Chitose, Japan 1st Marathon 2:15:57
2014 Gold Coast Marathon Gold Coast, Australia 3rd Marathon 2:11:27
2014 City to Surf Marathon Perth, Australia 1st Marathon 2:12:55
2014 Asian Games Incheon, South Korea 3rd Marathon 2:12:42
2014 New York City Marathon New York City, United States 11th Marathon 2:16:41
2014 Fukuchiyama Marathon Fukuchiyama, Japan 1st Marathon 2:12:59
2014 Naha Marathon Naha, Japan 1st Marathon 2:13:43
2014 Hofu Yomiuri Marathon Hofu, Japan 1st Marathon 2:09:46
2015 Ibusuki Nanohana Marathon Ibusuki, Japan 1st Marathon 2:24:10
2015 Nobeoka Nishi Nippon Marathon Nobeoka, Japan 8th Marathon 2:15:16
2015 Kochi Ryoma Marathon Kochi, Japan 1st Marathon 2:15:06
2015 Seoul International Marathon Seoul, South Korea 16th Marathon 2:13:33
2015 Zurich Marathon Zurich, Switzerland 2nd Marathon 2:12:12
2015 Kurobe Meisui Marathon Kurobe, Japan 1st Marathon 2:17:58
2015 Gold Coast Marathon Gold Coast, Australia 8th Marathon 2:16:23
2015 City to Surf Marathon Perth, Australia 1st Marathon 2:16:23
2015 Cape Town Marathon Cape Town, South Africa 9th Marathon 2:16:33
2015 Iwate Kitakami Marathon Kitakami, Japan 1st Marathon 2:13:21
2015 New York City Marathon New York City, United States 6th Marathon 2:13:29
2015 Fukuoka International Marathon Fukuoka, Japan 8th Marathon 2:12:48
2015 Hofu Yomiuri Marathon Hofu, Japan 2nd Marathon 2:12:24
2016 Ibusuki Nanohana Marathon Ibusuki, Japan 1st Marathon 2:15:14
2016 Lake Biwa Mainichi Marathon Ōtsu, Japan 7th Marathon 2:11:53
2016 New Taipei City Wan Jin Shi Marathon New Taipei City, Taiwan 2nd Marathon 2:14:12
2016 Zurich Marathon Zurich, Switzerland 1st Marathon 2:12:04
2016 Gold Coast Marathon Gold Coast, Australia 2nd Marathon 2:09:01
2016 Berlin Marathon Berlin, Germany 13th Marathon 2:11:03
2016 Porto Marathon Porto, Portugal 2nd Marathon 2:14:32
2016 Fukuoka International Marathon Fukuoka, Japan 3rd Marathon 2:09:11
2016 Hofu Yomiuri Marathon Hofu, Japan 3rd Marathon 2:12:45
2017 Ehime Marathon Ehime, Japan 1st Marathon 2:09:54
2017 Daegu Marathon Daegu, South Korea 6th Marathon 2:13:04
2017 Prague Marathon Prague, Czech Republic 6th Marathon 2:10:13
2017 Stockholm Marathon Stockholm, Sweden 6th Marathon 2:14:04
2017 Gold Coast Marathon Gold Coast, Australia 3rd Marathon 2:09:18
2017 World Championships London, United Kingdom 9th Marathon 2:12:19
2017 Oslo Marathon Oslo, Norway 1st Marathon 2:15:58
2017 Betsukai Pilot Marathon Betsukai, Hokkaido 1st Marathon 2:13:43
2017 Marathon des Alpes-Maritimes Nice-Cannes Nice, France 6th Marathon 2:15:02
2017 Saitama International Marathon Saitama, Japan 1st Marathon 2:15:54
2017 Fukuoka International Marathon Fukuoka, Japan 9th Marathon 2:10:53
2017 Hofu Yomiuri Marathon Hofu, Japan 1st Marathon 2:10:03
2018 Marshfield Road Runners New Years Day Marathon Marshfield, United States 1st Marathon 2:18:59[32]
2018 Kitakyushu Marathon Kitakyushu, Japan 1st Marathon 2:11:46
2018 New Taipei City Wan Jin Shi Marathon New Taipei City, Taiwan 1st Marathon 2:14:12
2018 Boston Marathon Boston, Massachusetts 1st Marathon 2:15:58
2018 Stockholm Marathon Stockholm, Sweden 4th Marathon 2:22:57
2018 Gold Coast Marathon Gold Coast, Australia 9th Marathon 2:14:51
2018 New Caledonia International Marathon Noumea, New Caledonia 1st Marathon 2:18:18
2018 Wakkanai Heiwa Marathon Wakkanai, Hokkaido 2nd Marathon 2:24:55
2018 Chicago Marathon Chicago, United States 19th Marathon 2:16:26
2018 Venice Marathon Venice 7th Marathon 2:27:43
2018 Fukuoka International Marathon Fukuoka, Japan 10th Marathon 2:12:03
2018 Hofu Yomiuri Marathon Hofu, Japan 1st Marathon 2:11:29
2019 Ibusuki Nanohana Marathon Ibusuki, Japan 1st Marathon 2:14:21
2019 Shizuoka Marathon Shizuoka, Japan 1st Marathon 2:13:41
2019 Lake Biwa Mainichi Marathon Ōtsu, Japan 8th Marathon 2:09:21
2019 Boston Marathon Boston, Massachusetts 17th Marathon 2:15:29
2019 Vancouver Marathon Vancouver, British Columbia 1st Marathon 2:15:01
2019 Gold Coast Marathon Gold Coast, Australia 13th Marathon 2:15:32
2019 New Caledonia International Marathon Noumea, New Caledonia 1st Marathon 2:17:24
2019 Wakkanai Heiwa Marathon Wakkanai, Hokkaido 1st Marathon 2:20:28
2019 World Championships Doha, Qatar 29th Marathon 2:17:59
2019 Fukuoka International Marathon Fukuoka, Japan 12th Marathon 2:12:50
2019 Hofu Yomiuri Marathon Hōfu, Japan 7th Marathon 2:14:17
2020 Marrakech Marathon Marrakesh, Morocco 23rd Marathon 2:17:26
2020 Lake Biwa Mainichi Marathon Ōtsu, Japan 25th Marathon 2:14:33
2020 Fukuoka International Marathon Fukuoka, Japan 19th Marathon 2:13:59
2020 Hofu Yomiuri Marathon Hōfu, Japan 2nd Marathon 2:10:26
2021 Lake Biwa Mainichi Marathon Ōtsu, Japan 10th Marathon 2:07:27
2021 Fukuoka International Marathon Fukuoka, Japan 12th Marathon 2:11:33
2021 Hofu Yomiuri Marathon Hōfu, Japan 3rd Marathon 2:10:11
2022 Osaka Marathon Osaka, Japan 9th Marathon 2:08:49
2022 Boston Marathon Boston, Massachusetts 20th Marathon 2:12:55
2022 Gold Coast Marathon Gold Coast, Australia Marathon 3:57:39
2022 Wakkanai Peace Marathon Wakkanai, Japan 2nd Marathon 2:22:18
2022 Matsumoto Marathon Matsumoto, Nagano, Japan 1st Marathon 2:20:25
2022 Hofu Yomiuri Marathon Hōfu, Japan 17th Marathon 2:16:38
2022 Mie Matsusaka Marathon Matsusaka, Japan 1st Marathon 2:16:31
2023 Ishigakijima Marathon Ishigaki, Okinawa, Japan 1st Marathon 2:18:05
2023 Osaka Marathon Osaka, Japan 12th Marathon 2:07:35
2023 Saga Sakura Marathon Saga, Japan 1st Marathon 2:11:32
2023 London Marathon London, United Kingdom 11th Marathon 2:13:18
2023 Vancouver Marathon Vancouver, British Columbia 1st Marathon 2:17:05
2023 Gold Coast Marathon Gold Coast, Australia 7th Marathon 2:12:35
2023 Wakkanai Peace Marathon Wakkanai, Hokkaido 1st Marathon 2:24:51
2023 Tallinn Marathon Tallinn, Estonia 5th Marathon 2:14:07
2023 Marathon Grand Championship Tokyo, Japan 4th Marathon 2:09:18
2023 Tohoku Miyagi Revive marathon Miyagi, Japan 1st Marathon 2:11:48
2023 Hofu Yomiuri Marathon Hofu, Japan 1st Marathon 2:08:32
2023 Mie Matsusaka Marathon Matsusaka, Japan 1st Marathon 2:18:58
2024 Ibusuki Nanohana Marathon Ibusuki, Japan 1st Marathon 2:21:13

Ultramarathon Results

Year Competition Venue Position Event Notes
2011 Okinoshima Ultramarathon Shimane, Japan DNF 50 km
2012 Okinoshima Ultramarathon Shimane, Japan 1st 50 km 2:51:45
2013 Okinoshima Ultramarathon Shimane, Japan 1st 50 km 2:57:28
2014 Okinoshima Ultramarathon Shimane, Japan 1st 50 km 2:47:27
2015 Okinoshima Ultramarathon Shimane, Japan 1st 50 km 2:48:23
2016 Okinoshima Ultramarathon Shimane, Japan 1st 50 km 2:44:07
2017 Okinoshima Ultramarathon Shimane, Japan 1st 50 km 2:47:35
2018 Yatsugatake Nobeyama Highland Ultramarathon Nagano, Japan 1st 71 km 4:41:55
2018 Okinoshima Ultramarathon Shimane, Japan 1st 50 km 2:52:55
2019 Okinoshima Ultramarathon Shimane, Japan 1st 50 km 2:49:51

Personal bests

World records

Personal life

Kawauchi married fellow runner Yuko Mizuguchi in May 2019, about two weeks after they both won their gender class in the Vancouver Marathon.[34]

Kawauchi has two younger brothers. He started running at the age of 7, by his mother Mika who used to run 800m and 1500m as a middle and high school student.

References

  1. ^ a b "Yuki Kawauchi, Citizen Marathon Runner". Wall Street Journal. June 14, 2011. Retrieved 2012-10-20.
  2. ^ "Kawauchi downplays Olympic shot". Japan Times. February 27, 2012. Retrieved 2012-10-20.
  3. ^ Snider-McGrath, Ben (2021-03-03). "Yuki Kawauchi becomes first person to run 100 sub-2:20 marathons". Canadian Running Magazine.
  4. ^ Larner, Brett (2012-09-16). Kawauchi 2:11:52 CR in Sydney For Second Marathon Win in 3 Weeks. Japan Running News. Retrieved on 2013-02-24.
  5. ^ 川内 優輝　Yuki Kawauchi. JAAF. Retrieved on 2013-02-24.
  6. ^ a b c Yuk Kawauchi. Tilastopaja. Retrieved on 2013-02-24.
  7. ^ Nakamura, Ken (2010-02-28). Beating horrendous conditions, Fujiwara and Biktimirova collect Tokyo Marathon wins. IAAF. Retrieved on 2013-02-24.
  8. ^ Nakamura, Ken (2010-12-05). Beating the sun and heat, Gharib takes Fukuoka victory. IAAF. Retrieved on 2013-02-24.
  9. ^ Larner, Brett (2012-02-05). Kisorio Wins Deepest-Ever Marugame International Half-Marathon. Japan Running News. Retrieved on 2013-02-24.
  10. ^ Nakamura, Ken (2011-02-27). Mekonnen triumphs in Tokyo in 2:07:35. IAAF. Retrieved on 2013-02-24.
  11. ^ "Blue-Collar" Runner Kawauchi Collapses In 50K. Podium Runner (2011-06-21). Retrieved on 2023-06-02.
  12. ^ 2011 World Championship Marathon: Abel Kirui Repeats as Champion. Let'sRun (2011-09-04). Retrieved on 2013-02-24.
  13. ^ Nakamura, Ken (2011-12-04). Running in his debut, Ndambiri triumphs in Fukuoka. IAAF. Retrieved on 2013-02-24.
  14. ^ Larner, Brett (2012-12-18). Bat-Ochir and Kawauchi Duel at Hofu Yomiuri Marathon (updated). Japan Running News. Retrieved on 2013-02-24.
  15. ^ Larner, Brett (2012-02-27). Kawauchi, 14th in 2:12:51: "I Do Not Think I Will be Picked" for Olympics; Shaves Head. Japan Running News. Retrieved on 2013-02-24.
  16. ^ Larner, Brett (2012-06-18). Kawauchi 2:51:45 CR at Okinoshima 50 km Ultra . Japan Running News. Retrieved on 2013-02-24.
  17. ^ Larner, Brett (2012-09-23). Kawauchi Runs Double 1500 m and 5000 m PBs, Targets 1500 m at 2013 National Championships. Japan Running News. Retrieved on 2013-02-24.
  18. ^ Nakamura, Ken (2012-12-02). 2:06:58 win for Gitau in Fukuoka. IAAF. Retrieved on 2013-02-24.
  19. ^ Larner, Brett (2012-12-16). Kawauchi Wins Hofu in 2:10:46 Two Weeks After 2:10:29 in Fukuoka, Hosaka Gets Age 63 World Record. Japan Running News. Retrieved on 2013-02-24.
  20. ^ Gambaccini, Peter (2013-01-17). 2:08 Marathoner Pays 3 Months' Salary to Travel to Race. Runner's World. Retrieved on 2013-02-24.
  21. ^ Kawauchi Wins Egyptian Marathon Despite Travel Snafu. Runner's World (2013-01-13). Retrieved on 2013-02-24.
  22. ^ Nakamura, Ken (2013-02-03). Kawauchi clocks course record in Beppu-Oita Marathon. IAAF. Retrieved on 2013-02-25.
  23. ^ Larner, Brett (2013-02-17). Shitara Sets Collegiate National Record, Ito and Kawauchi Blaze Fast 30 km Times in Ome and Kumamoto. Japan Running News. Retrieved on 2013-02-25.
  24. ^ Larner, Brett (2012-02-18). Kawauchi Challenges Kashiwabara to Race Him Next Year in Ome . Japan Running News. Retrieved on 2013-02-25.
  25. ^ Chepkwony, Chepchirchir complete first Kenyan double at Seoul International Marathon. IAAF (2013-03-17). Retrieved on 2013-03-19.
  26. ^ Nakamura, Ken (2013-04-21). Kawauchi and Puchkova win snowy Nagano Marathon. IAAF. Retrieved on 2013-04-22.
  27. ^ Johnson, Len (2013-07-07). Course records for Akaba and Kawauchi at Gold Coast Marathon. IAAF. Retrieved on 2013-07-29.
  28. ^ "The People's Marathoner Yuki Kawauchi Wins the 2018 Boston Marathon". Letsrun.com. 16 April 2018. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
  29. ^ Kumar, Aishwarya (16 April 2018). "Yuki Kawauchi's surprise win in Boston". ESPN. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
  30. ^ Carter, Kate (April 17, 2018), "10 reasons Yuki Kawauchi, Boston marathon winner, should be your favourite runner", The Guardian
  31. ^ "Athletics: Kawauchi to turn pro after Boston win", Reuters, April 19, 2018
  32. ^ "Yuki Logs WR 76th Sub-2:20:00 Marathon in Frosty Marshfield (MA!)". 2 January 2018.
  33. ^ "50th Yamaguchi All-Corporate Half Marathon Championships" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2022-02-13. Retrieved 2023-08-27.
  34. ^ Francis, Anne (2019-05-19). "Yuki and Yuko get married in a lavish ceremony". Canadian Running. Gripped Publishing Inc.

External links

Boston Marathon – men's winners
Japan Championships in Athletics men's marathon champions
Authority control databases
Categories