Paralympic Gold Medalist Disqualified For Rule Violation In Tokyo Race
Tokyo Paralympics gold medalist Michishita Misato came first in a half marathon for female athletes with visual impairments on Sunday, but was disqualified because her guide crossed the finishing line before she did.
Michishita's time of 1 hour, 23 minutes and 34 seconds in the Tokyo Legacy Half Marathon would have been a new world record.
Her guide, Shida Jun, said he didn't know which way to go before crossing the finishing line, and he is responsible for the consequences.
Michishita said with a smile that it can happen.
Michishita won the gold medal in the marathon for female athletes with visual impairments at last year's Tokyo Paralympics.
Inouchi Natsumi, who finished second, became the winner, setting a new world record of 1 hour, 31 minutes and 41 seconds.
Karasawa Kenya won the race for male athletes with visual impairments with a new world record time of 1 hour, 8 minutes and 30 seconds. Karasawa took the silver medal in the men's 5,000-meter race at the Tokyo Paralympics.