In the women’s javelin final at the Ultimate Championship (Budapest, Hungary, September 12 / September 13 Japan time), Haruka Kitaguchi launched a throw that set a new Japan national record and ranks 10th all-time in the world, taking the gold ahead of an 18-year-old Chinese thrower whose personal best ranks 2nd all-time. On 5ch reaction threads, commenters buzzed about the form improvements since her coaching change, expressed both surprise and anticipation over the rapidly rising Chinese athlete, praised Kitaguchi’s fluency in English and Czech, and noted the news that her win locks in a wildcard spot for next year’s World Athletics Championships in Beijing.
Nikkan Sports
[September 13, 2026, 2:53 AM]
<Athletics: Ultimate Championship> ◇September 12 (September 13 Japan time) ◇Day 2 ◇Budapest, Hungary ◇Women’s Javelin Final
She's probably thrilled about the record too, that's amazing. Congrats!
6AnonymousSep 13, 2026 08:50
Is she being coached by Zelezny? …that's incredible.
8AnonymousSep 13, 2026 08:50
I had the impression her progress stalled after switching coaches, so did the form overhaul finally pay off? Or was there some kind of equipment upgrade? I mean, an 18-year-old Chinese thrower already holding the 2nd-best mark ever…
9AnonymousSep 13, 2026 08:51
If people start calling her "Javelor" I won't be able to stay quiet either — heading out now aiming for my 100th "peka" (a slang point/achievement counter popular in some fan communities).
10AnonymousSep 13, 2026 08:51
Is it even possible for an 18-year-old Chinese athlete to throw the 2nd-best mark of all time?
12AnonymousSep 13, 2026 08:54
Re: #10 She was already throwing over 60m in her third year of junior high and has been improving every year since — it's only a matter of time before she surpasses Kitaguchi and sets a world record.
26AnonymousSep 13, 2026 09:04
Re: #10 The talent pool in this event is small, and equipment keeps evolving in various ways, so it's plausible.
11AnonymousSep 13, 2026 08:54
The Chinese athlete hurt her leg on her second throw and didn't throw again from the third attempt on. She might skip the Asian Games.
24AnonymousSep 13, 2026 09:04
Re: #11 That's fine — good for her!
13AnonymousSep 13, 2026 08:55
I saw someone mention before that there's a Chinese teenager consistently throwing 70m — did she beat that thrower?
14AnonymousSep 13, 2026 08:57
Having some charm despite that throwing build is important too.
15AnonymousSep 13, 2026 08:58
I think she's amazing — she's the only female athlete whose SNS I follow.
20AnonymousSep 13, 2026 09:01
Re: #15 That's saying something.
27AnonymousSep 13, 2026 09:05
Re: #1 Still as cute as ever. Love her.
35AnonymousSep 13, 2026 09:13
Re: #27 She could play the drummer role in VIVANT (a Japanese TV drama).
31AnonymousSep 13, 2026 09:10
Fluent in English too, huh — "brains and beauty" must've been coined for her.
37AnonymousSep 13, 2026 09:13
Re: #31 Czech too, you know. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5bI6yJ9Iwo
70AnonymousSep 13, 2026 10:24
Re: #37 Amazing — there's even a sense of ease in how she talks. She really is a bundle of talent.
75AnonymousSep 13, 2026 10:32
Re: #37 Wasn't she sharp-minded too? Wonder what she'll do after retiring.
32AnonymousSep 13, 2026 09:10
You know, javelin might be more fun if they turned it into 50-meter target shooting… just a thought.
33AnonymousSep 13, 2026 09:12
Re: #1 Congratulations!!! It's been a while since she's done that!!!
>even stronger "Javelor" now
Written in katakana it looks funny lol
34AnonymousSep 13, 2026 09:12
I think her final goal was to clear 70m.
36AnonymousSep 13, 2026 09:13
It's nice that she said "totemo" (very) instead of the Osaka-dialect "meccha" — lately people say "meccha" even in interviews without a second thought.
38AnonymousSep 13, 2026 09:14
Isn't she the only Japanese woman to win gold on the athletics track (as opposed to field events)? That's ridiculously impressive.
39AnonymousSep 13, 2026 09:15
Re: #38 Field, lol (correcting "track" to "field event").
45AnonymousSep 13, 2026 09:22
Is she competing in the Asian Games?
47AnonymousSep 13, 2026 09:25
Re: #45 Of course Kitaguchi will compete — and by winning the Ultimate Championship today, she's also become the first Japanese athlete confirmed for a wildcard spot at next year's World Athletics Championships in Beijing.
53AnonymousSep 13, 2026 09:34
Nobody cares about this sport, so it doesn't get any attention.
54AnonymousSep 13, 2026 09:39
Re: #53 Still more than you, though.
78AnonymousSep 13, 2026 10:35
Haruka is so cute.
Background and Key Points of This Discussion
Haruka Kitaguchi was the gold medalist at the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest, and this latest win came on Day 2 of this season’s “Ultimate Championship.” The thread notes that her victory secured a wildcard berth for next year’s World Athletics Championships in Beijing, though the original article doesn’t specify the exact qualifying criteria. The biggest talking point was the rapid rise of the 18-year-old Chinese thrower with a mark ranking 2nd all-time — commenters speculated about changes in form or equipment advances, while others pointed out that because javelin has a small competitor pool, standout athletes can emerge more easily. It’s worth noting that this Chinese athlete injured herself on her second throw and withdrew afterward, making the head-to-head comparison limited. Praise for Kitaguchi’s English and Czech language skills also came up, which reflects a side of her already known from her regular interactions with international media.
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