Japan's Sydney Olympic marathon champion Naoko Takahashi is expected to inform the Japan Amateur Athletic Federation of her plans to turn pro by the end of this month, athletics sources said Tuesday.
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| Naoko Takahashi |
As a professional athlete, Takahashi will be eligible to receive payment for commercial endorsements, money that currently goes straight into the coffers of the Japanese Olympic Committee.
Takahashi will also be following in the footsteps of former Japanese marathon heroine Yuko Arimori, who, ironically, could face a serious commercial threat from Japan's new starlet.
Arimori is the only athlete currently accorded professional status by the JAAF.
Arimori has found Takahashi's newfound stardom difficult to cope with and she was unable to hide the rivalry she felt with her former teammate and new protege of coach Yoshio Koide.