Yoshitaka Muroya

In the early 1950s Yoshitaka Muroya was one of the best middle-distance runners on the track in Japan. At high school Muroya specialised in both the 800 and 1,500 metres, becoming the national champion in both distances in 1952. These performances earned him a place on the Olympic team for the Helsinki Games where he ran in the 800 metres as well as the 4 × 400 metres relay, but did not advance from the heats in either event.

In 1954 Muroya once again became the Japanese champion in both the 800 and 1,500 metres. That same year he also won gold in the 800 metres and the 4 × 400 metres relay at the Asian Games in Manila, along with silver in the 1,500 metres. The following year he won his fifth Japanese title with victory in the 800 metres. Muroya competed at his second Olympics in 1956, where he reached the semi-finals in the 800 metres at the Melbourne Games. At his home Asian Games in Tokyo in 1958, he won another gold in the 800 metres, as well as gold in the 4 × 400 metres relay. Muroya was also a keen golfer, taking part in the Japan Senior Golf Championship in 1990.

Personal Bests: 400 – 49.5 (1953); 800 – 1:52.1 (1958).