More than three years have passed since the most significant day in Mizuki Noguchi's life.
Mizuki Noguchi (center), the Olympic marathon champion at the 2004 Athens Games, poses with rivals Yoko Shibui (left) and Hiromi Ominami on Friday during a news conference for the Tokyo International Women's Marathon this Sunday.
KYODO PHOTOOn Aug. 22, 2004, she earned a permanent spot in the hearts of her Japanese compatriots by winning the women's marathon gold medal in the Athens Summer Olympics.