Genki Dean

For the New Zealand banker and economist, see Roderick Deane.
Roderick Genki Dean
Dean at the 2012 Japan Championships (Athletics)
Personal information
Nationality Japan
Born (1991-12-30) 30 December 1991 (age 32)
Kobe, Japan
Height1.82 m (5 ft 11+1⁄2 in)[1]
Weight86 kg (190 lb)
Sport
SportTrack and field
EventJavelin throw
College teamWaseda University
Achievements and titles
Personal bestJavelin throw: 84.28 m (Hiroshima 2012)

Roderick Genki Dean (Japanese: ディーン・ロドリック・元気; born 30 December 1991) is a Japanese athlete who competes in the javelin throw.[1] He was born to a Japanese mother and a British father from Chester-le-Street, England.[2] He has a degree in sports science from Waseda University.[3]

Career

He started throwing the javelin at age 15 in high school and immediately displayed an aptitude for the discipline. He won a silver medal at the 2010 World Junior Championships in Athletics throwing a new personal best of 76.44 m. He first came to prominence at the 2012 Japan Championships in Athletics, throwing 84.03 m, setting a new championship record, beating veteran Yukifumi Murakami and sealing his place in the Japanese team for the 2012 Summer Olympics in the Javelin throw.[4] He was selected as the Most Valuable Male Athlete of the Japanese Championships. At the 2012 Olympics he threw 82.07m to qualify from the heats, but could not improve on this and finished 10th in the final with 79.95m.

In 2020 and 2021, he finished 2nd in the Japanese championships.[5]

Dean won Japan's National Javelin Championship and earned gold medals in June 2022 and 2023, with 81.02 m and 82.65 m throws.[6][7][8] In 2023, he won the Asian Championships, finished third in the Asian Games[9][10] and competed at the World Championships, having also competed at the 2022 World Championships.[5] He is currently ranked 8th in the world in his discipline.[10]

Seasonal bests by year

  • 2009 - 70.57
  • 2010 - 78.57
  • 2011 - 79.20
  • 2012 - 84.28
  • 2013 - 80.15
  • 2014 - 77.32
  • 2015 - 75.09
  • 2016 - 79.59
  • 2017 - 75.30
  • 2018 - 76.33
  • 2019 - 78.00
  • 2020 - 84.05
  • 2021 - 82.15
  • 2022 - 82.34
  • 2023 - 83.15

References

  1. ^ a b "Roderick Genki Dean: Athlete profile". London 2012. Archived from the original on 30 July 2012. Retrieved 7 August 2012.
  2. ^ "ディーン元気(やり投げ)プロフィール!高校生の時もカッコいい!". yumeotoku.com (in Japanese). 2020-11-26. Retrieved 2023-01-05.
  3. ^ McCurry, Justin (2012-08-11). "Japanese javelin star embraces British roots at London 2012". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2023-10-22.
  4. ^ McCurry, Justin (24 July 2012). "Bicultural javelin thrower Genki Dean fielding a media frenzy". Japan Today. Archived from the original on 8 October 2014. Retrieved 7 August 2012.
  5. ^ a b "Roderick Genki DEAN | Profile | World Athletics". worldathletics.org. Retrieved 2023-10-22.
  6. ^ "日本選手権男子やり投優勝者". 月陸Online｜月刊陸上競技 (in Japanese). 2022-05-27. Retrieved 2023-01-05.
  7. ^ "Dean Wins First National Title Since 2012 as National Track and Field Championships Wrap Up". japanrunningnews.blogspot.com. Retrieved 2023-01-05.
  8. ^ "ディーン元気 (Roderick Genki Dean) on Instagram: "Japan national championship's🥇 81.02m 応援ありがとうございました！😊 内容はともあれ勝てて良かった💪 来年から数年間は91年の新井と僕、どっちが勝つか負けるかの数年にしたい、しような‼️ けんじ、小南の代に負けへんぞっ！笑 ここまで楽しくないことが大半で長かったけど頑張って良かったです。 メッセージ等々ゆっくり返していきます。 ©️Agence SHOT #Javelinthrow #lifeisgood"". Instagram. Retrieved 2023-01-05.
  9. ^ NEWS, KYODO. "Asian Games: Japan manage 3 bronze medals in athletics". Kyodo News+. Retrieved 2023-10-22.
  10. ^ a b "Roderick Genki DEAN | Profile | World Athletics". worldathletics.org. Retrieved 2024-03-14.