Choshun Ryu

Choshun Ryu (born 23 January 1912) was a Japanese long-distance runner in the 1930s. He represented the Japanese Empire internationally.
On 14 April 1934 Ryu set the Asian athletics record in the 10,000 metres with a time of 31' 20.2" in Tokyo. This was that season the sixth time worldwide. Two monhts later he won the gold medal in the 10,000 metres event at the 1934 Far Eastern Championship Games in Manila. In the Dutch newspaper "Het nieuws van den dag voor Nederlandsch-Indië" is it described how this "tiny Japanese" was much better than the rest. During the race his lead got bigger and bigger. At the end of the race he had overtaken all opponents, except for the Japanese Hideo Tanaka. He won at the Games also the silver medal in the 1500 metres behind Tanaka.
In 1935 and 1937 he was the best Asian marathon runner. Worldwide he was sixth in 1935 and 1937.