1. Early Life and Background
Chisato Fukushima was born on June 27, 1988, in Makubetsu, Hokkaido, Japan. She was known for her slender build and a distinctive pitch-type running style, characterized by a powerful start dash that rivaled or even surpassed that of non-Japanese athletes.
1.1. Childhood and Education
Fukushima began her journey in athletics during her fourth year of elementary school. At this time, she also took up speed skating, focusing on the 500-meter distance, although she only pursued it throughout her elementary school years. This early experience in speed skating significantly contributed to her development of balance and powerful leg strength, which later became crucial assets for her explosive starts in sprinting. Despite starting track and field at an early age, her performance in elementary school was modest, typically only allowing her to reach the finals at Hokkaido prefectural competitions.
After graduating from Hokkaido Obihiro Minami Commercial High School, Fukushima enrolled in the Information Systems Department of Hokkaido High-Technology College in 2007. During her time there, she was a member of the college's athletics club, known as Hokkaido High-Tech AC, where she continued her training under the guidance of coach Hiroyuki Nakamura. Upon graduating in 2009, she remained with the college, joining its staff while continuing her athletic career. Her mother also had a background in sprinting.
1.2. Athletic Beginnings
Fukushima's competitive journey began in earnest during her time at Makubetsu Town Nukanai Junior High School, where she started participating in national tournaments like the Junior Olympics. However, throughout her junior high and high school years, specifically from 2003 to 2006, she consistently faced defeat in the women's 100 metres at the All-Japan Junior High School Athletics Championships and the Inter-High School Athletics Championships, often losing to her contemporary and rival, Momoko Takahashi. Despite her own achievements at national competitions, she remained somewhat overshadowed by the successes of Takahashi and Taeko Nakamura during this early period of her career.
2. Career
Chisato Fukushima's career as a sprint athlete spanned over a decade, marked by significant advancements, national record-breaking performances, and numerous appearances at major international competitions. Her journey saw her transition from a promising junior athlete to a dominant force in Japanese sprinting and eventually a professional athlete before her retirement.
2.1. Early Career and Olympic Debut (2005-2008)
Fukushima made her international debut in 2005, participating in the sprints at the 2005 World Youth Championships in Athletics. The following year, she competed at the 2006 World Junior Championships in Athletics.
The year 2008 marked a significant breakthrough in her career. On April 28, at the Mikio Oda Memorial International Amateur Athletic Meet in Hiroshima, she achieved a time of 11.36 seconds in the women's 100 metres, which tied the Japanese national record previously set by Hideko Nihei in 2001. This performance also allowed her to clear the Olympic "B" standard. On June 29, she secured her first national title in the women's 100 metres at the 92nd Japan National Athletics Championships in Kawasaki, finishing with a time of 11.48 seconds. Although she did not achieve the "A" standard for the Olympics, the Japan Association of Athletics Federations highly regarded her rapid improvement and future potential, selecting her to represent Japan in the women's 100 metres at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. This selection was historic, marking the first time in 56 years that a Japanese woman had competed in the Olympic 100 metres since Ayako Yoshikawa at the 1952 Helsinki Olympics. At the Beijing Olympics, Fukushima competed in the 100 metres, finishing fifth in her heat with a time of 11.74 seconds, which was not sufficient to advance to the second round. Later that year, on September 23, she won the women's 100 metres at the Super Track & Field meet in Kawasaki with a time of 11.70 seconds, making her the first Japanese woman to win the 100-meter event at an international athletics competition held in Japan.
2.2. Breaking National Records and Asian Success (2009-2011)
The period from 2009 to 2011 saw Fukushima establish herself as Japan's premier sprinter, consistently breaking national records and achieving significant victories at the Asian level.
In 2009, she began setting new national records. On May 3, she broke Sakie Nobuoka's 200-meter Japanese national record of 23.33 seconds, clocking 23.14 seconds at the Shizuoka International Athletics Meet. Just over a month later, on June 7, at a local sprint challenge event in Tottori, she broke her own 100-meter national record twice in a single day, first with a time of 11.28 seconds and then further improving it to 11.24 seconds. These performances also secured her qualification for the 2009 World Championships in Athletics by meeting the "A" standard. Later in June, at the Japan National Championships in Hiroshima, she broke the 200-meter national record again, achieving 23.00 seconds and winning her first title in the event. She had to withdraw from the 100-meter final due to a groin strain. At the World Championships in Berlin, she advanced to the second round of the 100 metres, running 11.43 seconds, marking the first time a Japanese woman had progressed this far in the event at the World Championships, and the first time at any Olympic or World Championship since Sumiko Watanabe at the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics. She was eliminated in the 200-meter heats. In November of the same year, she claimed her first Asian title in the 100 metres at the 2009 Asian Athletics Championships in Guangzhou, China, with a time of 11.27 seconds despite a negative wind. Three days later, she secured her second gold medal at the same championships as part of the women's 4x100 meter relay team. For her achievements in 2009, she was voted third for the Japanese Athlete of the Year award by an expert panel from Track and Field Magazine of Japan.
Fukushima continued her record-breaking form into 2010. On April 29, she lowered her 100-meter national record to 11.21 seconds at the Mikio Oda Memorial meet in Hiroshima. On May 3, at the Shizuoka International Athletics Meet, she achieved a historic 22.89 seconds in the 200 metres, becoming the first Japanese female athlete to run under 23 seconds in the event, further improving her previous national record. She finished second in the 100 metres at the IAAF Grand Prix Osaka meet. In November, at the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou, she ended Japan's 44-year gold medal drought in the women's 100 metres by winning with a time of 11.33 seconds. She followed this by winning the 200 metres on November 25, achieving a sprint double (100m and 200m) for the first time by a Japanese woman at the Asian Games. Her dominant performance led to her being named the JAAF Athlete of the Year on December 15, 2010.
In 2011, Fukushima maintained her status as one of Asia's fastest sprinters. In June, she won both the 100m and 200m titles at the Japan National Championships. At the Seiko Golden Grand Prix, she contributed to a new national relay record of 43.39 seconds alongside her teammates Saori Kitakaze, Momoko Takahashi, and Kana Ichikawa. On June 26, she ran a wind-assisted 100m in 11.16 s in Tottori. At the 2011 World Championships in Athletics in Daegu, South Korea, she advanced to the semi-finals in both the 100m (11.59s) and 200m (23.52s), marking the first time a Japanese woman reached the 100m semi-finals at the World Championships since Sumiko Watanabe in the 1932 Olympics, and the first time ever for the 200m at either the World Championships or the Olympics.
2.3. Olympic Appearances and Continued Dominance (2012-2016)
This period saw Fukushima's continued presence at the Olympic Games and her sustained dominance in Japanese domestic sprinting, coupled with further record-breaking performances.
In 2012, prior to the outdoor season, Fukushima competed at the World Indoor Championships in Istanbul, Turkey. On March 10, she set a new indoor Japanese record in the 60 metres with a time of 7.29 seconds, breaking the previous record of 7.40 seconds which had been held by three athletes, some for nearly two decades. She became the first Japanese woman to reach the semi-finals in this event at the World Indoor Championships, but she had to withdraw due to influenza. In June, at the 96th Japan National Athletics Championships, she achieved her second consecutive 100m and 200m double victory, which secured her qualification for the London Olympics. At the London Olympics, she competed in the 100m (11.41s) and 200m (24.14s), both ending in heat eliminations. She also participated in the 4x100m relay, marking Japan's first appearance in this event at the Olympics since the 1964 Tokyo Games, with the team finishing their heat in 44.25 seconds.
In 2013, Fukushima completed her third consecutive 100m and 200m double at the 97th Japan National Athletics Championships. She earned a silver medal in the 100m at the Asian Championships in Pune, India, and competed in the 200m at the 2013 World Championships in Athletics in Moscow. In October, she also competed in the 400m at the National Sports Festival, finishing her heat in 56.26 seconds.
Her dominance in national championships continued into 2014, as she won her fourth consecutive 100m and 200m titles at the 98th Japan National Athletics Championships. At the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea, she aimed for a repeat gold in the 100m but finished second to Wei Yongli of China by just 0.01 s, clocking 11.49 seconds. She also secured a bronze medal in the 200m.
In 2015, Fukushima continued her strong performances on the Asian stage, winning a gold medal in the 100m at the Asian Championships in Wuhan, China, with a wind-assisted time of 11.23 seconds. This was her first 100m Asian gold since 2009. She also won her fifth consecutive 100m and 200m double at the 99th Japan National Athletics Championships. In July, at a World Challenge Meeting in Madrid, Spain, she recorded 11.25 seconds in the 100m, marking the best time by a Japanese athlete outside of Japan. At the 2015 World Championships in Athletics in Beijing, she improved on this, running 11.23 seconds in her 100m heat (with a negative wind of -0.5 m/s), setting a new foreign record for a Japanese woman and advancing to the semi-finals, where she finished with 11.32 seconds.
The 2016 season culminated in another significant achievement. After suffering from calf cramps in April and missing some early season meets, Fukushima returned strongly at the 100th Japan National Athletics Championships in Nagoya in June. She won her seventh consecutive 100m title with a time of 11.45 seconds. The following day, she claimed her sixth consecutive 200m title, breaking her own national record set six years prior with a time of 22.88 seconds. This marked her first time running under 23 seconds in the 200m since May 2010. These victories secured her qualification for the Rio de Janeiro Olympics, making her the first Japanese woman to be selected for the Olympic 100m for three consecutive Games. However, during a training camp in New Jersey prior to the Rio Olympics, she sustained a left hamstring injury, which led her to withdraw from the 100m and focus solely on the 200m. At the Rio Olympics, she finished her 200m heat in 23.21 seconds, which was not enough to advance.
2.4. Professional Transition and Retirement (2017-2022)
Following the 2016 Rio Olympics, Chisato Fukushima embarked on a new phase of her career, transitioning to professional status and eventually retiring from competitive athletics.
The 2017 season was challenging for Fukushima, as she continued to struggle with leg cramps from early on. She withdrew from the Mikio Oda Memorial in April and finished sixth at the Seiko Golden Grand Prix after experiencing cramps during warm-up. At the Japan National Championships, her long-standing winning streaks in both the 100m and 200m came to an end, as she placed second in the 100m and fifth in the 200m. While she did win the 100m at the Nambu Chuhei Memorial with a season best of 11.36 seconds, it was not enough to meet the World Championships qualifying standard.
On January 20, 2017, Fukushima announced her departure from the Hokkaido High-Technology College and its Athletes Club, stating her decision to become a professional athlete. Her affiliation changed to First Track Inc., and she was registered with the Sapporo Athletics Association. Less than a year later, on January 11, 2018, she held a press conference at the Seiko Holdings headquarters in Tokyo to announce that she had officially joined Seiko as a company athlete, effective January 1. She expressed her enthusiasm for training in a new environment and aimed to update her self-record and Japanese records. Based in Kanagawa Prefecture, she began training under coach Ken Nakata and teamed up with fellow Seiko athlete Ryota Yamagata.
In 2021, on March 14, it was reported that Fukushima would be enrolling in Juntendo University's Graduate School of Health and Sports Science, while maintaining her affiliation with Seiko. This move indicated her desire to apply medical science to her athletic performance and deepen her understanding of sports.
Chisato Fukushima formally announced her retirement from active competition on January 29, 2022, bringing an end to her decorated career as one of Japan's most prominent sprinters.
3. National Records and Personal Bests
Chisato Fukushima has been a prolific record-breaker in Japanese athletics, particularly in sprint events. She has set numerous national records and established impressive personal bests throughout her career.
3.1. Japanese Records
Fukushima has broken or tied Japanese national records a total of 11 times across four events, including individual sprints and the 4x100m relay.
| Event | Time (seconds) | Wind | Venue | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 60m (Indoor) | 7.29 | - | Istanbul, Turkey | March 10, 2012 | - |
| 100m | 11.36 | +1.7 | Hiroshima, Japan | April 28, 2008 | Japanese National Record (tied) |
| 11.28 | +0.8 | Tottori, Japan | June 7, 2009 | Japanese National Record | |
| 11.24 | +1.9 | Tottori, Japan | June 7, 2009 | Japanese National Record | |
| 11.21 | +1.7 | Hiroshima, Japan | April 29, 2010 | Japanese National Record | |
| 200m | 23.14 | +1.5 | Fukuroi, Japan | May 3, 2009 | Japanese National Record |
| 23.00 | +1.7 | Hiroshima, Japan | June 26, 2009 | Japanese National Record | |
| 22.89 | -0.2 | Fukuroi, Japan | May 3, 2010 | Japanese National Record | |
| 22.88 | +1.8 | Nagoya, Japan | June 26, 2016 | Japanese National Record | |
| 4x100m Relay | 43.67 | - | Beijing, China | May 24, 2008 | Japanese National Record |
| 43.58 | - | Osaka, Japan | May 9, 2009 | Japanese National Record | |
| 43.39 | - | Kawasaki, Japan | May 8, 2011 | Japanese National Record |
3.2. Personal Bests
Fukushima's career best times in her primary individual events are as follows:
| Event | Time (seconds) | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60m (Indoor) | 7.29 | Istanbul, Turkey | March 10, 2012 |
| 100m | 11.21 | Hiroshima, Japan | April 29, 2010 |
| 200m | 22.88 | Nagoya, Japan | June 26, 2016 |
4. Major Competition Results
Chisato Fukushima has competed extensively at various national and international athletics events throughout her career. Her major results include numerous medals and significant performances at the Olympic Games, World Championships, Asian Games, and Asian Athletics Championships, as well as consistent victories in Japanese national competitions.
4.1. Olympic Games
Fukushima represented Japan in three Olympic Games, participating in sprint events.
| Year | Competition | Venue | Event | Result | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Olympic Games | Beijing, China | 100 m | 5th (heat) | 11.74 s |
| 2012 | Olympic Games | London, United Kingdom | 100 m | 5th (heat) | 11.41 s |
| 200 m | 7th (heat) | 24.14 s | |||
| 4x100 m relay | 8th (heat) | 44.25 s | |||
| 2016 | Olympic Games | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | 200 m | 5th (heat) | 23.21 s |
4.2. World Championships
Fukushima made several appearances at the World Athletics Championships, progressing through preliminary rounds in various events.
| Year | Competition | Venue | Event | Result | Time | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | World Youth Championships | Marrakech, Morocco | 100 m | 4th (semifinal) | 11.95 s | |
| 200 m | 7th (semifinal) | 24.87 s | ||||
| 2006 | World Junior Championships | Beijing, China | 100 m | 7th (semifinal) | 12.11 s | |
| 4x100m relay | DQ (heat) | - | ||||
| 2009 | World Championships | Berlin, Germany | 100 m | 7th (quarterfinal) | 11.43 s | |
| 200 m | 4th (heat) | 23.4 s | ||||
| 4x100 m relay | 4th (heat) | 44.24 s | ||||
| 2011 | World Championships | Daegu, South Korea | 100 m | 8th (semifinal) | 11.59 s | |
| 200 m | 8th (semifinal) | 23.52 s | ||||
| 4x100 m relay | 5th (heat) | 43.83 s | ||||
| 2012 | World Indoor Championships | Istanbul, Turkey | 60 m | DNS (semifinal) | - | Japanese Indoor Record in heat (7.29 s) |
| 2013 | World Championships | Moscow, Russia | 200 m | 5th (heat) | 23.85 s | |
| 2015 | World Championships | Beijing, China | 100 m | 7th (semifinal) | 11.32 s | |
| 200 m | 34th (heat) | 23.3 s |
4.3. Asian Games
Fukushima achieved significant success at the Asian Games, including a historic sprint double in 2010.
| Year | Competition | Venue | Event | Result | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Asian Games | Guangzhou, China | 100 m | 1st | 11.33 s |
| 200 m | 1st | 23.62 s | |||
| 4x100 m relay | 3rd | 44.41 s | |||
| 2014 | Asian Games | Incheon, South Korea | 100 m | 2nd | 11.49 s |
| 200 m | 3rd | 23.45 s | |||
| 4x100 m relay | 3rd | 44.05 s | |||
| 2018 | Asian Games | Jakarta, Indonesia | 100 m | 20th (heat) | 11.99 s |
4.4. Asian Athletics Championships
Fukushima consistently performed well at the Asian Athletics Championships, earning multiple gold and silver medals.
| Year | Competition | Venue | Event | Result | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Asian Championships | Guangzhou, China | 100 m | 1st | 11.27 s |
| 4x100 m relay | 1st | 43.93 s | |||
| 2011 | Asian Championships | Kobe, Japan | 200 m | 1st | 23.49 s |
| 4x100 m relay | 1st | 44.05 s | |||
| 2013 | Asian Championships | Pune, India | 100 m | 2nd | 11.53 s |
| 200 m | 4th | 23.81 s | |||
| 4x100 m relay | 2nd | 44.38 s | |||
| 2015 | Asian Championships | Wuhan, China | 100 m | 1st | 11.23 s (+2.5m/s wind) |
| 4x100 m relay | 2nd | 44.14 s | |||
| 2019 | Asian Championships | Doha, Qatar | 100 m | 16th (semifinal) | 12.02 s |
4.5. Other International and National Competitions
Beyond major championships, Fukushima also excelled in various other international meets and consistently dominated national competitions in Japan.
| Year | Competition | Venue | Event | Result | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | National Sports Festival | Kumagaya, Japan | 4x100m relay | 1st | 45.43 s | New competition record |
| 2005 | National Sports Festival | Okayama, Japan | 4x100m relay | 1st | 45.28 s | New competition record |
| 2006 | Japan Junior Championships | Izumo, Japan | 100 m | 1st | 11.73 s | New competition record |
| 2006 | Inter-High School Championships | Osaka, Japan | 200 m | 3rd | 23.81 s | |
| 2006 | National Sports Festival | Akita, Japan | 4x100m relay | 1st | 46 s | |
| 2007 | East Japan Business Group Championships | Kumagaya, Japan | 100 m | 1st | 11.47 s | Wind-assisted |
| 2008 | Mikio Oda Memorial | Hiroshima, Japan | 100 m | 1st | 11.36 s | Tied Japanese National Record |
| 2008 | Japan National Championships | Kawasaki, Japan | 100 m | 1st | 11.48 s | |
| 2008 | Nambu Chuhei Memorial | Hakodate, Japan | 100 m | 1st | 11.49 s | |
| 2008 | Super Track & Field | Kawasaki, Japan | 100 m | 1st | 11.7 s | First Japanese female winner at international 100m meet in Japan |
| 2009 | Shizuoka International | Fukuroi, Japan | 200 m | 1st | 23.14 s | Japanese National Record |
| 2009 | Fuse Sprint | Tottori, Japan | 100 m | 1st | 11.24 s | Japanese National Record (broken twice in one day) |
| 2009 | Japan National Championships | Hiroshima, Japan | 200 m | 1st | 23 s | Japanese National Record |
| 2009 | National Sports Festival | Niigata, Japan | 200 m | 1st | 23.4 s | |
| 2010 | Mikio Oda Memorial | Hiroshima, Japan | 100 m | 1st | 11.21 s | Japanese National Record |
| 2010 | Shizuoka International | Fukuroi, Japan | 200 m | 1st | 22.89 s | Japanese National Record, first Japanese female under 23 s |
| 2010 | Japan National Championships | Marugame, Japan | 100 m | 1st | 11.3 s | |
| 2010 | National Sports Festival | Chiba, Japan | 100 m | 1st | 11.26 s | New competition record |
| 2011 | Japan National Championships | Kumagaya, Japan | 100 m | 1st | 11.39 s | |
| 2011 | Japan National Championships | Kumagaya, Japan | 200 m | 1st | 23.44 s | |
| 2011 | National Sports Festival | Yamaguchi, Japan | 100 m | 1st | 11.24 s | New competition record |
| 2011 | Japan National Relay Championships | Yokohama, Japan | 4x100m relay | 1st | 44.64 s | Representing Hokkaido High-Tech AC |
| 2012 | Mikio Oda Memorial | Hiroshima, Japan | 100 m | 1st | 11.34 s | |
| 2012 | Japan National Championships | Osaka, Japan | 100 m | 1st | 11.45 s | 3rd consecutive title |
| 2012 | Japan National Championships | Osaka, Japan | 200 m | 1st | 23.35 s | |
| 2012 | National Sports Festival | Gifu, Japan | 100 m | 1st | 11.55 s | 3rd consecutive title |
| 2013 | Japan National Championships | Chofu, Japan | 100 m | 1st | 11.41 s | 4th consecutive title |
| 2013 | Japan National Championships | Chofu, Japan | 200 m | 1st | 23.25 s | 3rd consecutive title |
| 2013 | National Sports Festival | Chofu, Japan | 100 m | 1st | 11.66 s | 4th consecutive title |
| 2014 | Japan National Championships | Fukushima, Japan | 100 m | 1st | 11.69 s | 5th consecutive title |
| 2014 | Japan National Championships | Fukushima, Japan | 200 m | 1st | 23.79 s | 4th consecutive title |
| 2014 | National Sports Festival | Isahaya, Japan | 100 m | 1st | 11.41 s | 5th consecutive title |
| 2015 | Japan National Championships | Niigata, Japan | 100 m | 1st | 11.5 s | 6th consecutive title |
| 2015 | Japan National Championships | Niigata, Japan | 200 m | 1st | 23.23 s | 5th consecutive title |
| 2015 | National Sports Festival | Wakayama, Japan | 100 m | 1st | 11.39 s | 6th consecutive title |
| 2016 | Japan National Championships | Nagoya, Japan | 100 m | 1st | 11.45 s | 7th consecutive title |
| 2016 | Japan National Championships | Nagoya, Japan | 200 m | 1st | 22.88 s | 6th consecutive title, Japanese National Record |
| 2016 | All Japan Corporate Track and Field | Osaka, Japan | 100 m | 1st | 11.57 s | Won on debut |
| 2016 | National Sports Festival | Kitakami, Japan | 100 m | 1st | 11.66 s | 7th consecutive title |
| 2017 | Japan National Championships | Osaka, Japan | 100 m | 2nd | 11.58 s | |
| 2017 | Japan National Championships | Osaka, Japan | 200 m | 5th | 24.01 s | |
| 2017 | Nambu Chuhei Memorial | Sapporo, Japan | 100 m | 1st | 11.36 s | 3rd victory at this meet |
5. Personal Life and Anecdotes
Throughout her career, Chisato Fukushima maintained close relationships with fellow athletes and was involved in several notable public events.
Her teammate at Hokkaido High-Technology AC, Saori Kitakaze, initially joined the institution as staff while Fukushima was still a student. After Fukushima graduated and also became a staff member, they became colleagues at work in addition to being teammates in the club.
Fukushima shared a friendly rivalry with Momoko Takahashi, whom she had competed against since junior high. Despite their on-track contests, they were known to be close friends, affectionately calling each other "Chii" and "Momoko".
In a unique event in late 2008, Fukushima participated in a 100-meter race against Seiya Fujita, then a soccer player for Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo. In a special segment broadcast by Hokkaido Cultural Broadcasting, Fukushima won the race with a manually timed 11.44 seconds, narrowly beating Fujita's 11.54 seconds.
In 2011, for the release of the boxing film Ashita no Joe, Fukushima was appointed the "Ashita no Joe Support Group Hokkaido Branch Manager," representing athletes from the Hokkaido region. She appeared alongside the film's cast, including Tomohisa Yamashita, at a preview screening event.
Fukushima also shares a connection with speed skater Miho Takagi. Both hail from Makubetsu Town, and Takagi was Fukushima's junior at high school. At a send-off event for Fukushima before the London Olympics held in their hometown, Takagi had the honor of presenting flowers to her.
6. Awards and Recognition
Chisato Fukushima's achievements in athletics earned her significant awards and recognition within Japan's sports community.
In 2008, she received the Japan Association of Athletics Federations (JAAF) Athletics Award for Rookie of the Year, sharing the honor with Shin Fujiwara and Kensuke Takesawa. This award highlighted her promising early career and rapid ascent in the sport.
Following her outstanding performance in 2010, which included a historic sprint double at the Asian Games and multiple national records, Fukushima was named the JAAF Athletics Award Athlete of the Year. This prestigious award recognized her as the most outstanding athlete of the year by the national governing body for athletics in Japan.
7. Post-Athletic Career
After announcing her retirement from competitive athletics in January 2022, Chisato Fukushima transitioned into new roles within the sports world. She has become an athletics coach, sharing her extensive experience and knowledge with the next generation of athletes.
In January 2024, she was selected as a member of the logo selection committee for the 2025 World Athletics Championships which is scheduled to be held in Tokyo. This role demonstrates her continued involvement and influence in the organization and promotion of major athletics events in Japan.
8. Related Books
Chisato Fukushima's career and training methods have been featured in publications that offer insights into Japanese sprinting and her unique approach to the sport.
- The Day Japanese People Stand in the Olympic 100m Final (日本人が五輪100mの決勝に立つ日Nihonjin ga Gorin 100m no Kesshō ni Tatsu HiJapanese) by Hiroyuki Nakamura, Nihon Bungeisha, 2011. This book likely details the challenges and aspirations of Japanese sprinters, potentially using Fukushima's journey as a central theme.
- Chisato Fukushima's Running Style! Nakamura-style Running Power Up Training (福島千里の走りを身につける！ 中村式 走力アップトレーニングFukushima Chisato no Hashiri o Mi ni Tsukeru! Nakamura-shiki Sōryoku Appu TorēninguJapanese) by Hiroyuki Nakamura, Yosensha, 2011. This publication focuses on the training techniques and philosophy developed by her coach, Hiroyuki Nakamura, with an emphasis on how they contributed to Fukushima's distinctive running style and success.