Atsushi Yamamoto Break a World Record in Long Jump (T42 category)

Atsushi Yamamoto, 34, bettered the world record by 3 centimeters to set a new world record in the running long jump of 6.56 meters, in the qualifying trials in the category of impaired limb in Tottori, April 30.

Yamamoto won last year's world championships in the running long jump in the impaired limb class to clinch his ticket to the next Paralympics.

Having marked the world record at his fourth jump at Tottori, Yamamoto said:

"I knew I could break the world record if I felt fit and all conditions met. At Rio I'm going all out for a gold medal."

Atsushi Yamamoto is a leg amputee athlete competing in T42 sprint and long jump. In the Summer Paralympics in Beijing, 2008, he won a silver medal in men's long jump.

In women's events, Maya Nakanishi, 30, took part in the running long jump for three years in a row and rewrote her Japan record by 3 centimeters to set a new record of 5.51 meters. This puts her at the top of this year's world ranking.

Maya Nakanishi competes in category T44 sprint and long jump events. She has her right lower leg amputated below the knee. Nakanishi played soft tennis had to give it up after the accident. She then quickly found success in track and field.

Nakanishi hails from Yufushi, Oita, currently amidst lingering quakes. Nakanishi commented:

"I thought of young ones back in Yufushi living agonizing days and wanted so bad to win to cheer them up. I believe I have a gold medal within my reach and want to work hard to get one at Rio."

Nakanishi had her biography "Last One" published by a sport writer Tatsuhito Kaneko in December 2014.