SYDNEY -- The strong performance of Japanese women to claim 13 of the 18 medals that the nation has won at the Sydney Olympics reflects women's growing independence in society, women's marathon gold medalist Naoko Takahashi said Saturday.
Takahashi attributed the success of individual women at the Olympics to the progress of women in the wider community in Japan.
"In the past, male athletes have done much better (than women), but now we can prove that female athletes can do well in this, and not just in sport but in society," Takahashi told reporters at the Japanese Olympic Committee's final press conference of the Sydney Games.