Koji Murofushi facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Koji Murofushi

Koji Murofushi at the 2011 World Championships in Athletics
Personal information
Nationality	Japanese
Born	(1974-10-08) 8 October 1974 (age 50) Numazu, Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan
Employer	Mizuno Track Club
Height	187 cm (6 ft 2 in)
Weight	99 kilograms (218 lb)
Sport
Country	Japan
Sport	Athletics
Event(s)	Hammer throw
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)	84.86 m (2003)
Medal record Men's athletics Representing  Japan Olympic Games Gold 2004 Athens Hammer throw Bronze 2012 London Hammer throw World Championships Gold 2011 Daegu Hammer throw Silver 2001 Edmonton Hammer throw Bronze 2003 Paris Hammer throw Asian Games Gold 1998 Bangkok Hammer throw Gold 2002 Busan Hammer throw Silver 1994 Hiroshima Hammer throw Asian Championships Gold 2002 Colombo Hammer throw Silver 1993 Manila Hammer throw Silver 1995 Jakarta Hammer throw Silver 1998 Fukuoka Hammer throw

Koji Alexander Murofushi (広治アレクサンダー室伏, Kōji Arekusandā Murofushi, born 8 October 1974) is a famous Japanese athlete. He used to compete in the hammer throw, which is an athletics event. Koji was one of the best hammer throwers in the world for many years. He won a silver medal at the 2001 World Championships in Athletics. He also became an Olympic champion in 2004. In 2011, he won the world championship title.

Early Life and Education

Koji Murofushi was born on October 8, 1974. His hometown is Numazu, in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. Koji comes from a family of athletes. His father, Shigenobu Murofushi, was also an Olympian. He held the Japanese record in hammer throw for 23 years. Koji's sister, Yuka Murofushi, is also an athlete. She competes in both hammer throw and discus. Koji's mother, Serafina Moritz, was a javelin thrower for Romania. Koji can speak Romanian.

Koji started learning hammer throw when he was 10 years old. His father was his first coach. He went to Chukyo University for his studies. His father also coached track and field there. Koji earned a degree in physical education. Later, in 2007, he completed his doctorate at the same university. In 2011, he became a professor at Chukyo University. He then joined Tokyo Medical and Dental University in 2014. There, he works as a professor of physical education. He is also the director of their sports science center.

Koji's Amazing Career

Koji Murofushi had a very successful career in athletics. Before 2001, he was already well-known in Asian sports.

Early Achievements in Asia

• He won a bronze medal at the 1993 East Asian Games.
• He earned silver medals at the 1993 and 1995 Asian Championships.
• In 1994, he won a silver medal at the Asian Games.
• He won his first gold medal at the 1997 East Asian Games.
• After another silver at the 1998 Asian Championship, he won gold at the 1998 Asian Games.

Competing on the World Stage

Koji also competed in big international events. He finished eighth at the 1992 World Junior Championships in Athletics. He was tenth at the 1997 World Championships in Athletics. At the 2000 Olympic Games, he finished ninth.

In 2001, Koji won gold medals at the Goodwill Games and the East Asian Games. He even set a new record at the East Asian Games. After winning silver at the 2001 World Championships, he continued his winning streak. He won the 2002 Asian Championships and Asian Games. He also got a silver medal at the 2002 World Cup. In 2003, he won a bronze medal at the World Championships. That year, he threw the hammer 84.86 meters. This was the longest throw in over ten years! It put him fourth on the list of all-time best throwers.

Olympic and World Champion

Koji was a favorite to win at the 2004 Summer Olympics. He won the gold medal in Athens. In July 2006, he won the World Athletics Final and the World Cup. He finished sixth at the 2007 World Championships. He was third at the 2007 World Athletics Final. At the 2008 Olympic Games, he finished fifth. Some athletes who won medals were later disqualified for issues with tests. However, they won their appeals and got their medals back.

In 2009, Koji won his fifteenth national title at the Japanese Championships. He won again the next year. In 2010, he made a world-leading throw of 80.99 meters. This helped him win the first IAAF Hammer Throw Challenge.

In August 2011, Koji won the gold medal at the World Championships. This made him the oldest winner of the men's hammer world title. He also received the International Fair Play award at the same event. He competed in the 2012 Summer Olympics and won the bronze medal.

In June 2014, Koji was chosen as the sports director for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

Competition Record

Year	Competition	Venue	Position	Notes
Representing  Japan
1992	World Junior Championships	Seoul, South Korea	8th	65.78 m
1993	East Asian Games	Shanghai, China	3rd	66.78 m
	Asian Championships	Manila, Philippines	2nd	65.54 m
1994	Asian Games	Hiroshima, Japan	2nd	67.48 m
1995	Asian Championships	Jakarta, Indonesia	2nd	69.24 m
	World Championships	Gothenburg, Sweden	35th (q)	67.06 m
	Universiade	Fukuoka, Japan	15th	67.58 m
1997	East Asian Games	Busan, South Korea	1st	73.40 m
	World Championships	Athens, Greece	10th	74.82 m
	Universiade	Catania, Italy	8th	73.46 m
1998	Asian Championships	Fukuoka, Japan	2nd	74.17 m
	Asian Games	Bangkok, Thailand	1st	78.57 m
1999	Universiade	Palma de Mallorca, Spain	6th	77.14 m
	World Championships	Seville, Spain	14th (q)	75.18 m
2000	Olympic Games	Sydney, Australia	9th	76.60 m
2001	East Asian Games	Osaka, Japan	1st	79.68 m
	World Championships	Edmonton, Canada	2nd	82.92 m
	Goodwill Games	Brisbane, Australia	1st	82.94 m
2002	Asian Championships	Colombo, Sri Lanka	1st	80.45 m
	Asian Games	Busan, South Korea	1st	78.72 m
2003	World Championships	Paris, France	3rd	80.12 m
2004	Olympic Games	Athens, Greece	1st	82.91 m
2007	World Championships	Osaka, Japan	6th	80.46 m
2008	Olympic Games	Beijing, China	5th	80.71 m
2011	World Championships	Daegu, South Korea	1st	81.24 m
2012	Olympic Games	London, United Kingdom	3rd	78.71 m
2013	World Championships	Moscow, Russia	6th	78.03 m

Images for kids

• 

  Koji Murofushi at the 2011 World Championships in Athletics

See also

In Spanish: Kōji Murofushi para niños