Japan’s Hayato Katsuki and Rimu Nakamura Win Gold at Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games
- Hayato Katsuki won the gold medal in the men's marathon race walk at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games on September 27, 2026, clocking a time of 3 hours,...
- Katsuki crossed the finish line more than three minutes clear of the rest of the field, running the 42.195-kilometer course mapped out through the Aichi Prefectural Government Office...
- Katsuki stated that he had to alter his strategy mid-race due to strict officiating standards.
Hayato Katsuki won the gold medal in the men’s marathon race walk at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games on September 27, 2026, clocking a time of 3 hours, 3 minutes and 36 seconds on the Nagoya city-centre course. According to coverage from News Directory 3 and fatmarathoner.com, the 35-year-old Japanese veteran secured his second Asian Games title and became the first Japanese race walker to win two gold medals in the competition’s history.
Men’s Marathon Race Walk Results and Podium Standings
Katsuki crossed the finish line more than three minutes clear of the rest of the field, running the 42.195-kilometer course mapped out through the Aichi Prefectural Government Office and Nagoya City Hall loop. Meanwhile, Japanese teammate Motofumi Suwa claimed the bronze medal by finishing in 3 hours, 8 minutes and 57 seconds, locking down a 1-3 finish for the host nation.
Strict Judging and Tactical Decisions on the Course
Katsuki stated that he had to alter his strategy mid-race due to strict officiating standards.
I had to carefully gauge how the judges would interpret my movement, especially concerning what point they might rule that I was losing contact with the ground.
Hayato Katsuki Katsuki noted that he played it safe after breaking clear for the final 10 kilometers to secure the victory safely under the required technical constraints.
BMX Freestyle Park and Additional Japanese Gold Medals
Japan secured additional gold medals across multiple disciplines during the Sunday schedule. Nakamura, who served as Japan’s flagbearer at the opening ceremony, scored 92.80 points on his first run before improving to 96.20 points on his second attempt. Kaede Ozawa earned the silver medal in the same event with 90.00 points, while China’s Sha Xiaolong took bronze with 86.20 points, according to The Japan News. Nakamura expressed satisfaction with his performance, noting that hosting the event in Japan for its Asian Games debut made the victory a significant confidence booster following his fifth-place finishes at the Tokyo Games and the 2024 Paris Olympics. Additional victories for the host nation included Hikaru Mori winning the women’s trampoline gymnastics event to become the first Japanese woman to achieve the feat, alongside six gold medals in fencing and an esports title in Pokemon Unite.
