Defending Marathon Medalist Withdraws

Defending Olympic Gold Medalist, Mizuki Noguchi of Japan withdrew from Olympic competition on Tuesday, according to the Japanese Olympic Committee. Noguchi, 30, earned the Gold Medal in the women’s marathon at the Athens Games in 2004. The reason given for her withdrawal was a lingering left thigh injury.

Britain’s Paula Radcliffe, the world record holder, is the favorite to win the marathon, which is scheduled to be run on August 17.