Based on a unique historical event in sports, Shizo Kanakuri is often referred to as the "slowest man in history" for taking over 50 years to complete a marathon.
The Story of Shizo Kanakuri and the 1912 Stockholm Olympics
Shizo Kanakuri was a pioneering Japanese marathon runner who participated in the 1912 Olympic Games in Stockholm, Sweden. He was one of Japan's first Olympic athletes.
During the marathon race on a hot summer day, Kanakuri, suffering from hyperthermia, stopped partway through the course and was cared for by a local family. He recovered and later returned to Japan without notifying race officials.
Because he didn't finish the race and didn't inform the organizers of his withdrawal, the Swedish authorities initially listed him as a missing person.
The Unofficial "Finish"
Decades later, in 1967, Swedish television tracked him down. They invited him back to Stockholm to officially complete the marathon course. He accepted the invitation and finished the race, recording an official time of 54 years, 8 months, 6 days, 5 hours, 32 minutes and 20.3 seconds.
This extraordinary duration gives him the unique distinction of having the longest recorded time for completing a marathon, leading to the moniker of the "slowest man in history" in this specific context.
Personal Information
According to the reference, here is some personal information about Shizo Kanakuri:
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Native Name | ιζ εδΈ |
| Born | 20 August 1891 in Nagomi, Kumamoto, Japan |
| Died | 13 November 1983 (aged 92) in Tamana, Kumamoto, Japan |
| Height | 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) |
For more details, you can refer to the Shizo Kanakuri Wikipedia page.
