ATHLETE

Meet the Athletes

Get to know the participating world-class athletes, and discover what makes each one of them superhuman.

Deaflympics athlete
Athletics athlete

Kodai Hayashi

He attended Omiya Deaf Academy until middle school, and then moved to a regular school from high school to continue playing football. He entered Omiya Higashi High School and Asia University. After that, he signed an athlete contract with Mercari Co., Ltd. Active as a semi-professional football player in Germany from graduation to 2023. After moving to Germany, he won the German Deaf Football Championships and became the first Asian player to take second place in the Deaf Champions League and was selected to the best eleven. In 2023, he became the first runner-up in Deaf Football World Cup in Japanese history. In 2024, he won the All Japan Deaf Football Championships and shined as MVP. Japan's athletic ace is gaining momentum as he prepares for 2025, having led his team to victory for the first time in 12 years at the Asia-Pacific Deaf Games in December.

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Shingo Suetsugu

After attending Kyushu Gakuin High School and Tokai University, joined Mizuno Corporation. Completed graduate school at Tokai University through in-house study abroad program. Became independent as a professional track and field athlete in April 2015. In 2018, he launched "EAGLERUN", which expresses his world view of running, and in addition to his activities as an athlete, he also teaches the younger generation. Participated in four World Athletics Championships and three Olympic Games. Only sprinter in Japan to have won medals at both the World Athletics Championships and the Olympics. “44 years old, competitor”. Achievements and individuality that have been built and refined. In 2025, “Only One” legend will shine in a unique way.

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Shingo Suetsugu, Athletics – “That’s why I run” The 44-year-old legend enjoys the “real challenge”

"Right now may be the most exciting time". Shingo Suetsugu said this happily, with a gentle smile on his face. At the 2003 World Athletics Championships in Paris, he became the first Japanese to win a bronze medal in the men's 200m in a sprint event. The 44-year-old, who has made a lot of history, including winning the silver medal in the 4x100m relay at the Beijing 2008 Olympics, continues to compete as an active sprinter. He also announced his intention to take on the challenge of competing in the World Athletics Championships Tokyo 25 held this year. "Run for myself, and not for someone else". What is the new story spun by the legend who holds the Japanese 200m record (20.03 seconds), which has remained unbroken for over 20 years?

Kodai Hayashi, Deaf football – The rebellious spirit of the “first penguin” that paved the way for overseas challenges

As with anything, trying something for the first time comes with risks. People respectfully call people who have the courage to jump into the ocean without fear the "first penguin". Kodai Hayashi, a member of the Japan Deaf Football National Team, has continued to take onA challenges worthy of his name. In 2019, he joined a German club, which was unprecedented for a deaf athlete. In the 2021-22 season, he achieved 22 goals and 10 assists in the 6th division league in which hearing athletes also plays. At the 4th World Deaf Football Championship (Deaf Football World Cup) in 2023, he contributed to the Japan men's national team's highest ever runner-up finish. We asked Kodai Hayashi, who has and will continue to take on challenges, about his thoughts on the Tokyo 2025 Deaflympics.

Rachid Muratake, Athletics – “Hurdle seeker” who rewrote history

"I'm basically a stubborn person". Rachid Muratake smiled as he placed 5th in the men's 110m hurdles at the Paris 2024 Olympics, the highest ever ranking for a Japanese men in a short-distance event. His gentle demeanor differs from the image of a seeker. However, his words are powerful: "I like to pursue things with particularity, and I think I can use that personality in my competitions". In recent years, the world of hurdles in Japan has become crowded with talented athletes, and it seems that the best competitors are competing against each other. The 22-year-old, who is at the top of the list, has his sights set on even greater heights after the Olympics.

Yuma Maruyama, Athletics – Aim to become the true “King of Athletes” Mountain challenge beyond limits

“King of Athletes”. Decathlon winners are also referred to as such by athletes outside of track and field. Ten events will be held over two days, including the 100m, long jump, shot put, high jump, 400m, 110m hurdles, discus throw, pole vault, javelin throw, and 1500m. The records will be converted into points and the participants will compete based on the total score. It is not hard to imagine that it is a tough competition. Yuma Maruyama is Japan's current leader in this decathlon. He has won the Japan Championship for the second time in a row and also participated in the Budapest 2023 World Athletics Championships. Although he did not reach the stage of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, he scored 8,021 points, becoming the fourth Japanese person to break the mark at this summer's World Athletics (WA) Mixed Tour. We took a closer look at the true face of the 26-year-old, who is currently in the prime of his career.

Takuma Sasaki, Deaf Athletics – Chasing my dreams up until now, and hope to start to show my running from now on

“Winning the gold medal in the 100m at the Deaflympics”. That was a dream that Takuma Sasaki had for a long time. That dream was finally achieved for the third time at the Caxias do Sul 2022 Deaflympics. However, because he achieved everything, he struggled to maintain motivation. What made him motivated again? And what is he aiming for at the Tokyo 2025 Deaflympics? We asked him about his new dream.