Hide Mineshima

Hide Mineshima was a promising tennis player when she attended high school in her hometown of Chiba. Around 1932 she started to practice throwing events in athletics. When she entered the Japan Women’s College of Physical Education Mineshima continued to play tennis, but in her second year she eventually concentrated on athletics. After graduating in 1935, she worked as a high school teacher but pursued the goal to compete at the Olympics without any guidance. During the first trial in 1936 she set a national record of 39.75 metres in the discus throw and in the final trial placed second only to Ko Nakamura. Placing fourth and fifth, respectively, both Japanese throwers narrowly missed the medals. Mineshima was determined to break the 40 metre barrier and to take part again in 1940.

Later in 1936 Mineshima became director of the Women’s Sports Federation and won the women’s national discus title. Two years later she was transferred to a lamp factory in Kawasaki, working as a gymnastics teacher and secretary. In addition, she became a physical education teacher at the Saitama Kawagoe High School. It was not until the summer of 1939 that she was able to train for the Olympics. When she required medical treatment in 1939 Mineshima returned to her parents’ house in Chiba. Details of her later life are unknown. It is said that she married and went to Manchuria.

Personal Best: DT – 39.75 (1936).