Sydney Olympic champion Naoko Takahashi overcame a career-threatening leg injury to win the Tokyo International Women's Marathon in a dramatic comeback to full marathon racing on Sunday.
Naoko Takahashi crosses the line at National Stadium to win the Tokyo International Women's Marathon in 2 hours, 24 minutes, 39 seconds.
Takahashi, running in a competitive marathon for the first time in two years, pulled away from Zivile Balciunaite of Lithuania and Ethiopian Elfenesh Alemu at the 35.7-km mark and crossed the line at National Stadium in 2 hours, 24 minutes, 39 seconds.