THE organisers of the annual Angkor Wat International Half Marathon confirm that champion Japanese Olympic marathon runner Yuko Arimori will continue her unbroken track-record of appearances at the event.

She has attended every Angkor marathon since the race's inception in 1996, and she will arrive in Siem Reap again this year in time for the race on December 7.

In 1996, Arimori made history as the first woman athlete granted professional status by the Japanese Amateur Athletic Federation.

She won silver in the marathon at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona where she was a mere eight seconds behind the winner.  In 1996 she won the bronze at the Atlanta Olympics.

Arimori is also the CEO of the Heart of Gold NGO, which she established and which encourages the handicapped to play sport. Heart of Gold also supports self-help activities of war victims in Cambodia and other countries.

Not only has Arimori taken part in every Angkor Wat International Half Marathon, but her organisation has also helped with the administration of the race. All participation fees collected during the race are used to fund artificial limbs for landmine victims.