Shinji Takahira

nihongo|Shinji Takahira|高平 慎士|Takahira Shinji|born 18 July 1984 in Asahikawa is a Japanese sprinter. [http://results.beijing2008.cn/WRM/ENG/BIO/Athlete/8/223808.shtml Athlete biography: Shinji Takahira] , beijing2008.cn, ret: Aug 29, 2008]

Takahira represented Japan at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. He competed at the 4x100 metres relay together with Naoki Tsukahara, Shingo Suetsugu and Nobuharu Asahara. In their qualification heat they placed second in behind Trinidad and Tobago, but in front of the Netherlands and Brazil. Their time of 38.52 was the third fastest out of sixteen participating nations in the first round and they qualified for the final. There they sprinted to a time of 38.15 seconds, the third time after the Jamaican and Trinidad teams, winning the bronze medal. He also took part in the 200 metres individual. In his first round heat he placed fourth in a time of 20.58 seconds, outside of the direct qualifiers. His time was however among the best losing times, securing his second round spot. In the second round he came to a time of 20.63 seconds and was eliminated as he only placed seventh in the heat.

Achievements

Personal bests

*100 metres - 10.32 s (2004)
*200 metres - 20.35 s (2006)

References

*iaaf name|id=190158
* [http://www.sanspo.com/beijing2008/athletics/takahira_shinji.html]