is a Japanese track and field athlete who specializes in middle and long-distance running. She is the current Japanese record holder in the women's 1000 metres, 1500 metres, 3000 metres, and 5000 metres. She also holds the Asian Area records in many indoor events, such as the 1000 metres, 3000 metres, and 5000 metres.
Tanaka represented Japan at the 2019 World Athletics Championships in the 5000 metres, and at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, competing in the 1500m and 5000m.
In November 2024, it was announced that she had signed up for the inaugural season of the Michael Johnson founded Grand Slam Track.
Early life Born in Ono, Hyōgo Prefecture on September 4, 1999, Tanaka was the child of two competitive runners. Her father, Katsutoshi, ran for a corporate team, while her mother, Chihiro, won the Hokkaido Marathon in 2003. Tanaka is coached by her father.
Tanaka first began running at a young age in local non-competitive races, where she enjoyed running with her family. Her father also organized many events, which allowed her to become even closer to the sport. She eventually won her first road race in her fifth year of elementary schooling. In sixth grade, her mother participated in an Australian marathon, where Tanaka won in the kids' division. Winning overseas ignited her competitive spirit and love for running.
Early career During her high school years, Tanaka began to make a name for herself in middle and long-distance running. At the age of 16, she competed in the 3000 meters at the 2016 World U20 Championships in Athletics in Bydgoszcz, Poland, finishing eighth with a time of 9:01.16. The next year, she placed fourth in the 1500 meters at the 2017 Asian Athletics Championships as the youngest in the entire field, clocking 4:20.43Final results 2017 Asian Athletics Championships. Retrieved 24 January 2023
In 2018, Tanaka continued to develop as an athlete. She dominated the 3000 meters at the Asian U20 Championships in Gifu, Japan, beating the rest of the field by nearly 10 seconds with a time of 9:04.36. Later that year, she took home the gold medal in the 3000 meters at the World U20 Championships in Tampere, Finland, setting a personal best of 8:54.01. This performance caught the attention of New Balance, who would later become her sponsor.
Senior career Following her U20 world title in 2018, Tanaka became Japan’s top middle and long distance runner. She won the Japanese national title in the 1500m in 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023. She also won the Japanese national 5000m in 2020, 2022, and 2023. At the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics, Tanaka reached the final of the 1500m, becoming the first Japanese women to do so, and doing it in front of her home crowd. Her semifinal time of 3:59.19 also broke the Japanese record.
In the coming years Tanaka would continue to set numerous national records for Japan, including the 5000m in 2023, the 2000m in 2024, and the 3000m in 2025. She also competed in the 800m, 1500m, and 5000m at the 2022 World Championships in Oregon, becoming the first Japanese athlete to do so. As of November 2025, she now holds a total of 13 Japanese records.
Competition record Major international competitions2021Olympic GamesTokyo, Japan16th (h)5000 m14:59.93 8th1,500 m3:59.95 (PB h)2019World Cross Country ChampionshipsAarhus, Denmark39th10 km39:27Senior Race Women IAAF World Cross Country Championships Aarhus, Denmark 30 Mar 2019 IAAFWorld ChampionshipsDoha, Qatar14th5000 m15:00.01 PB2018World U20 ChampionshipsTampere, Finland1st3000 m8:54.01 PBAsian U20 ChampionshipsGifu, Japan1st3000 m9:04.36 2017DécaNationParis, France3rd2000 m5:53.47Asian ChampionshipsBhubaneswar, India4th1500 m4:20.432016World U20 ChampionshipsBydgoszcz, Poland8th3000 m9:01.16 PB
Circuit performances
National titles Japan Championships in Athletics 1500 metres: 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 5000 metres: 2020, 2022, 2023
References
External links
Nozomi Tanaka at the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics (archived, alternate link)