On Friday, February 27, two days before the Tokyo Marathon 2026, the first Fan Meeting in the event's history was held at Tokyo Big Sight. In the first session, five male and five female elite invited athletes from the wheelchair marathon category were welcomed by approximately 150 marathon fans selected by lottery, engaging in a commemorative photo session and warm interactions.
Following the greeting, two athletes from each category took part in a talk session and various interactive events. To open the session, Wheelchair Race Director Masazumi Soejima addressed the fans: "With such an incredible lineup of athletes, I am confident we will see a thrilling race this Sunday. I hope you will watch these athletes as they take on the 42.195km course in their racers, feel their immense speed, and cheer them on."
SUZUKI, Tomoki (Toyota Motor Corporation), aiming for his third consecutive victory in the men's race, first expressed his gratitude to the gathered fans: "I am truly happy to have the opportunity to speak in front of so many of you today." Looking ahead to the race in two days, he shared his determination: "I have been making adjustments to run even faster, such as changing my gloves. It has only been a few months since the switch, so the results are still unknown, but I intend to give it my absolute all during the race."
HUG, Marcel (Switzerland), the world record holder seeking his first Tokyo Marathon victory in three editions, showed his confidence: "My training has gone well and I am in great shape, so I’m heading into the race with high motivation. Please look forward to seeing a great result."
In the women’s race, world record holder DEBRUNNER, Catherine (Switzerland), who is challenging for her second consecutive title, expressed her excitement for a fast race: "I am delighted to be participating in my second Tokyo Marathon. My training has been excellent, and I am in top condition."
NAKAMINE, Tsubasa (TESS Engineering), the current Japanese record holder, shared her outlook: "I recently updated my racer (racing wheelchair) and gloves about two months ago. While I haven’t completely mastered the new setup yet, I have a good feeling about it. I hope to deliver a performance that paves the way for my future races."
During the Q&A session, a fan asked about their pre-race and race-day routines. SUZUKI and NAKAMINE both revealed, "I intentionally don't create a set routine," while HUG and DEBRUNNER shared that "getting plenty of sleep" is their priority, offering the audience a glimpse into their individual approaches to elite competition. The event concluded with a prize drawing, where the direct interaction between the athletes and fans fostered a deep sense of unity.
Following the fan meeting, the athletes took part in a media interview. Reflecting on this new initiative, they all shared positive impressions, describing the event as "entertaining, like a show," "a great opportunity to grow the wheelchair racing fanbase," and "a fresh approach not seen in other races." They also expressed heartfelt gratitude to the many fans who attended.
As the Tokyo Marathon 2026 marks the first race of the year for all of them, the athletes also discussed the progress of their winter training and their determination for the upcoming race.
SCHÄR, Manuela (Switzerland), seeking her first victory in Tokyo in three editions, shared that she incorporated skiing into her winter training. "I'm in good condition and really looking forward to it," she said. MCFADDEN, Tatyana (USA), returning to the Tokyo Marathon for the first time since 2018, expressed her excitement: "I want to enjoy being back in Tokyo while showing the results of the physical strengthening I’ve been working on since last year." RAINBOW-COOPER, Eden (UK), who placed second in the 2024 edition and is making her second appearance, also showed confidence: "I had a great winter of training, so I hope to see that reflected in my performance."
From the Netherlands, PLAT, Jetze and SCHIPPER, Geert will be making their debut in Tokyo. Both are elite competitors with Paralympic podium finishes in paratriathlon and have been focusing heavily on the marathon in recent years. "The Tokyo Marathon is an event we’ve wanted to participate in for a long time," they said in unison. PLAT expressed his enthusiasm: "I’ve heard it’s a fast course. There are many strong competitors, but I want to give it my all." SCHIPPER, while more modest, stated that he first "aims to finish the race" and also spoke with determination: "I’ve updated my racer, so I want to see how the machine and my own condition perform together."
Looking ahead to the race, HUG analyzed the situation: "It’s difficult to set a specific time goal because it depends so much on weather conditions. With so many strong athletes, I won't be able to win without clever tactics." All eyes will be on this high-level strategic battle.
SUZUKI also shared his enthusiasm: "The field is so strong it feels like a Paralympic final. The key will be how much of a presence I can maintain among them. I hope to be right there in the mix with the world champion, MARCEL." WATANABE, Sho (TOPPAN), the 2017 champion, added, "I’ve re-evaluated my equipment, including my racer, and I hope to deliver a strong performance."
NAKAMINE burned with a quiet determination: "As the first race of the season, I’m grateful that such a prestigious group of athletes has gathered here in Tokyo. It's been a year and a half since the Paris Paralympics, so this is a perfect opportunity to see how much I’ve grown. I’m just going to give it my all and learn from the best."
The wheelchair race, featuring approximately 30 male and female athletes, will start at 9:05 AM on Sunday, March 1, in front of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building.
〇Tokyo Marathon 2026 Fan Meeting
Streaming URL:
https://youtube.com/live/Dl_bAnO-Ki8
