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Misato Takagi will race at the Mooloolaba Triathlon despite the disaster in Japan.
It took a marathon effort to get Misato Takagi to the Mooloolaba Triathlon.
The 33-year-old Japan national almost gave up on competing in this weekend’s event following the devastating earthquake and subsequent tsunami that caused havoc earlier this month.
While she, her family and her friends in Tokyo escaped uninjured from the March 11 natural disaster, her heart went out to everyone else affected.
Tears formed in her eyes yesterday as Ms Takagi told of the pain of her people, and her long journey to the Sunshine Coast.
“I didn’t feel like I wanted to be here at first, but I’m determined now,” Ms Takagi said.
“I’m still sad from what has happened. A lot of people died. Family and friends told me that I should still go when I said I didn’t want to because of what had happened.”
Read More: Sunshine Coast Daily