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Federation Tells World Championships Marathoner Horibata To Go On Diet

http://hochi.yomiuri.co.jp/sports/etc/news/20110307-OHT1T00258.htm

translated by Brett Larner

Having made the 2011 World Championships marathon team by running a PB of 2:09:25 to come in 3rd overall and as the top Japanese finisher at the Mar. 6 Lake Biwa Mainichi Marathon, Hiroyuki Horibata (24, Team Asahi Kasei), talked to the media at Osaka Airport on Mar. 7. Following Sunday's race Rikuren director Keisuke Sawaki, 67, told Horibata, "Let's cut things down a bit until the World Championships," directing him to go on a diet.

The 189 cm Horibata weighs 72 kg [~6'3", 160 lbs]. When he joined Team Asahi Kasei in 2005 at age 18 he weighed 65 kg, and this weight is still generally listed on his profile at races and in the media. "For some reason it never changes," he said with a grin. His coach Takeshi Soh, 58, commented, "If he was hungrier for glory his world would change completely," slapping the 'heavyweight division runner' on the back. "I'll do my best to get back down [to 65 kg]," Horibata promised.

Severely fatigued from his outstanding performance, Horibata was too tired to eat at the Lake Biwa post-race banquet and barely touched the food laid out for him. Has his diet already begun?

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