GIL24-TV Shizo Kanakuri, a Japanese marathon runner, holds a unique record in the annals of Olympic history.

Shizo Kanakuri, a Japanese marathon runner, holds a unique record in the annals of Olympic history. He started a marathon at the 1912 Stockholm Olympics and finished it 54 years, 8 months, 6 days, 5 hours, 32 minutes, and 20.3 seconds later!

In 1912, Kanakuri, already a record holder with a time of 2 hours, 32 minutes, and 45 seconds in a 40-km marathon, embarked on the Olympic marathon.

However, due to a combination of challenging circumstances, including a grueling journey to Sweden, caring for a sick teammate, and extreme heat on race day, he collapsed midway.

Choosing to return home without notifying officials, Kanakuri’s marathon remained unfinished. It wasn’t until 1967, when he was invited back to Stockholm by Swedish Television, that he finally completed his marathon.

He said, “Along the way, I got married, had 6 children and 10 grandchildren.”