was a Japanese long-distance runner who specialised in the marathon. Born in Kitago, Higashiusuki District, Miyazaki, he went on to represent his country twice at the Olympic Games: he finished 33rd in the marathon at the 1956 Summer Olympics and returned for the same event four years later at the 1960 Rome Olympics, taking 31st position with a time of 2:29:40.Kurao Hiroshima. Sports-Reference. Retrieved on 2010-02-08.
Outside of the Olympics, Hiroshima experienced much success on the Japanese marathon circuit. He made his first impact at the Japanese national championships: becoming the national champion for the first time in Tokyo in 1953 and for a second time in Fukuoka in 1955.National Marathon Champions for Japan. ARRS (2009-12-06). Retrieved on 2010-02-08. Between 1953 and 1959 he often registered within the world's top twenty fastest marathon runners of the year.World Marathon Rankings for 1953. ARRS (2009-08-23). Retrieved on 2010-02-08. He was a three-time winner of the Lake Biwa Marathon, with victories in 1955, 1957 and 1959.Biwa-ko Mainichi Marathon. ARRS (2009-02-03). Retrieved on 2010-02-08.
His achievements at the Fukuoka Marathon singled him out as one of the best Japanese runners of his generation: his winning time of 2:21:40 in 1957 was a new Japanese record,Nakamura, Ken. Marathon - A history of the Fukuoka International Marathon Championships by K. Ken Nakamura - Part 1 1947-1966. IAAF. Retrieved on 2010-02-08. the fifth fastest in the world that year.World Marathon Rankings for 1957. ARRS (2010-01-22). Retrieved on 2010-02-08. He became the first runner to win twice in Fukuoka when he took the title again two years later.
At the Beppu-Ōita Marathon, he was also the first athlete to win on multiple occasions (in 1956 and 1958).Beppu-Oita Mainichi Marathon. ARRS (2009-12-24). Retrieved on 2010-02-08. He also proved himself adept at the 20 kilometres distance when he won the Kashima Yutoku 20K in both 1955 and 1957.Larner, Brett & Ota, Shigenobu (2010-01-24). Kashima Yutoku Half Marathon. ARRS. Retrieved on 2010-02-08.
Although Hiroshima was largely focused on running in Japan throughout his career, he competed at the Boston Marathon in 1954 and just missed out on a podium place in fourth position.World Marathon Rankings for 1954. ARRS. (2009-10-16). Retrieved on 2010-02-08.
Achievements All results regarding marathon, unless stated otherwise Representing 1955Mainichi MarathonŌsaka, Japan 1st2:26:321956Beppu-Ōita MarathonBeppu-Ōita, Japan 1st2:26:241957Mainichi MarathonŌsaka, Japan 1st2:31:20Fukuoka Marathon Fukuoka, Japan 1st2:21:401958Beppu-Ōita MarathonBeppu-Ōita, Japan 1st2:25:161959Mainichi MarathonŌsaka, Japan 1st2:30:06Fukuoka Marathon Fukuoka, Japan 1st2:29:34
Personal bests Event Time (h:m:s) Race Venue Date Marathon 2:21:40 Fukuoka Marathon Fukuoka, Japan 1 December 1957
References
External links Biography and photo from Miyazaki Prefecture website