The International Management Group has signed up Japanese marathon runner Naoko Takahashi, 48 hours after the women's Olympic champion got the nod to begin commercial activities, IMG officials said Wednesday. The sports management giant will manage out-of-competition commercial deals for Takahashi, the first athlete registered with the Japan Amateur Athletic Federation as a corporate team member allowed to be engaged in "professional activities."
The 28-year-old Takahashi has reportedly shown an interest in doing TV commercial appearances and other endorsements since her gold medal in Sydney in an Olympic record time. The Gifu native, who had been bound by the JAAF's "amateur rules" until the federation's latest move, will remain a member of the Sekisui Chemical athletics team and an employee of the company.