Yoshie Takahashi

Yoshie Takahashi took up track and field athletics in earnest during high school and was skilled enough to be scouted to compete for the exclusive Chuo University. She took part in her first edition of the Japanese National Championships in 1953, where she won the long jump, and made her international début at the 1954 Asian Games, where she also captured the long jump title. Although lost the national crown to Kazue Otsuki that year, she regained in 1955 and kept it in 1956, leading to her selection for the 1956 Melbourne Olympics. At the Games, she was the highest-ranked jumper to fail to pass the qualification round.

Takahashi retired from active competition after the Olympics, but later became involved in coaching and administrating track and field. She took up a position as director of the women’s track and field club at Chuo University in 1974 and in 1993 became the first woman to head the Japanese Association of Athletics Federations. She also competed in masters-level tournaments, setting a national M55 record in the long jump in 1989.

Personal Best: LJ – 5.93 (1956).