Yuriko Kobayashi (; born 12 December 1988) is a Japanese professional middle- and long-distance runner who specializes in the 1500 metres and 5000 metres. She represented Japan at the 2008 Summer Olympics.
She started out in middle-distance events, running in the 800 metres at the 2004 World Junior Championships and then winning a 1500 m silver medal at the World Youth Championships in Athletics the following year. She won the bronze medal in the 1500 m at the 2005 Asian Championships in Athletics and went one better at the 2006 Asian Games by taking the silver medal in Doha. Kobayashi moved up to specialise in longer distances and ran the 5000 m at the 2008 Beijing Olympics after becoming the Japanese national champion in the event.
She gave the best performance by an Asian runner in the women's 5000 m at the 2009 World Championships in Athletics, finishing in eleventh and beating her domestic rival Yurika Nakamura.2009 World Championships 5000 Metres – W Final . IAAF (2009-08-22). Retrieved on 2010-05-02. Kobayashi ended her season with a 5000 m gold medal at the 2009 East Asian Games.Krishnan, Ram. Murali (2009-12-13). East Asian Games conclude. IAAF. Retrieved on 2011-01-20. She was selected to represent Asia/Pacific at the 2010 IAAF Continental Cup, but managed only eighth place in the 3000 m. The following January, she ran for Hyōgo at the 2011 Women's Inter-Prefectural Ekiden and set a new stage record in her section, although the team finished in ninth position overall.Nakamura, Ken (2011-01-17). Kyoto takes women’s Inter-Prefectural Ekiden title in Kyoto. IAAF. Retrieved on 2011-01-20. She was the bronze medalist in the 5000 m at the 2011 Asian Athletics Championships in Kobe, one place behind her compatriot Hitomi Niiya.2011 Asian Championships - Women's 5000 m. 2011 Kobe. Retrieved on 2011-11-25. At the International Chiba Ekiden in November she won the first women's stage for Japan, setting a race record for her leg, and the mixed team went on to finish a close second behind Kenya.Nakamura, Ken (2011-11-23). Teenagers Mwikya and Mokua lead Kenya to Chiba Ekiden victory. IAAF. Retrieved on 2011-11-25.
International competitions Representing 2004World Junior ChampionshipsGrosseto, Italy16th (heats)800 m2:07.562005World Youth ChampionshipsMarrakesh, Morocco 2nd1500 m4:13.96Asian ChampionshipsIncheon, South Korea 3rd1500 m4:14.152006World Cross Country ChampionshipsFukuoka, Japan30thShort race (4 km)13:34World Junior ChampionshipsBeijing, China 3rd1500 m4:12.88Asian GamesDoha, Qatar 2nd1500 m4:14.962008Summer OlympicsBeijing, China16th (heats)5000 m15:15.872009World ChampionshipsBerlin, Germany11th5000 m15:12.44East Asian GamesHong Kong, China1st5000 m16:46.86
Personal bests 800 metres – 2:05.78 min (2006) 1500 metres – 4:07.86 min (2006) 3000 metres – 8:51.85 min (2008) 5000 metres – 15:07.37 min (2008)
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