Miyoko Mitsui

As an employee of a power company, Miyoko Mitsui’s father had to move several times together with his family. Because he was a sports enthusiast himself Miyoko also became an athlete when her jumping talent was discovered in high school. Although she was less than 150 cm tall at the time, she was the leading high jumper in Japan in 1933. In the same year, she met 1932 100 m gold medalist Stanisława Walasiewicz during a tour of Japan and was encouraged by her. In 1934, she ranked first in Japan in the 80 metre hurdles, second in the triple jump, and third in the high jump.

In 1935 Mitsui entered the Japan Women’s Physical Education College. Her good results at the Meiji Jingu Games earned her a place on the Japanese team for the 1936 Berlin Olympics. For the Olympics she concentrated on the hurdles, winning the final of the trials. At the Olympics, however, she failed to qualify for the semi-finals due to her slow start. She continued her active career in view of the Olympics to be held in Tokyo in 1940. She was nicknamed “Treasure of Japan’s Athletics” and “Miss Athletics”. At the Japan Athletics Championships, she won the 80 m hurdles in 1934, 1936, and 1937.

After graduating in physical education in 1938, Mitsui worked at the Saitama Chichibu High School but continued her training. Only when Tokyo turned down the 1940 Olympics did Mitsui retire from active competition. One year later she returned to her family, working as a clerk at a manufacturing company. After World War II she married and became a mother of three. Miyoko continued to be involved in athletics and played an important role in establishing the Tokyo Masters Athletics Federation in 1980.

Personal Best: 80H – 12.7 (1934).