TDK Hosts Youth Initiative at IAAF World Relays Yokohama 2019

As part of the IAAF World Relays Yokohama 2019, held May 11–12 at Yokohama’s Nissan Stadium, official IAAF partner TDK (TOKYO:6762) presented the latest installment in its Rising Stars Clinic, a unique initiative in which aspiring young athletes are given the opportunity to train alongside some of the world’s leading track & field competitors.

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The May 11 session saw three star athletes—Shingo Suetsugu (Japan), 4x100m silver medalist at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing; Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake (Great Britain), 4x100m gold medalist at the 2017 IAAF World Championships in London; and Aleia Hobbs (United States), 4x100m gold medalist at this IAAF World Relays Yokohama —lead their young charges through special coaching sessions and an exclusive stadium tour.

As well as hands-on guidance for stretches, warm-up exercises, and baton relay practice, the 16 participants, selected from a local athletics club and international school, were treated to professional gear checks and a backstage tour for an in-depth taste of exactly what race day is like for athletes competing at the highest level. The finale was a 4x100m relay race on the main track, followed by mock media interviews in the stadium’s mixed zone. “It was so fun—a really great experience,” said one participant. “I was thrilled to run in the same stadium as these world-class athletes,” added another.

Rising Stars coach Suetsugu also expressed his enjoyment. “I was so happy to hear these young people say how much fun they were having,” he said. “I love kids, so it was a pleasure to work with this group. It was great how their determination to win came through in that final race. And besides winning and losing, I hope collective enjoyment of activities like today’s mock stadium entrances will help cement their love of running.”

Suetsugu added, “The Rising Stars Clinic gives the next generation a valuable chance to interact with world-class athletics competitors, so I hope it can continue for many years to come.”

About Rising Stars Clinic

The Rising Stars Clinic is a program unique to TDK that reflects TDK’s communications slogan “Attracting Tomorrow.” It gives young athletes an opportunity to interact with top-class athletes and see them compete at the highest level in the IAAF World Championships. The program aims to inspire young athletes to become the next generation of top athletes and is aimed at students who have an interest in track and field.

About TDK Corporation

TDK Corporation is a leading electronics company based in Tokyo, Japan. It was established in 1935 to commercialize ferrite, a key material in electronic and magnetic products. TDK's comprehensive portfolio features passive components such as ceramic, aluminum electrolytic and film capacitors, as well as magnetics, high-frequency, and piezo and protection devices. The product spectrum also includes sensors and sensor systems such as temperature and pressure, magnetic, and MEMS sensors. In addition, TDK provides power supplies and energy devices, magnetic heads and more. These products are marketed under the product brands TDK, EPCOS, InvenSense, Micronas, Tronics and TDK-Lambda. TDK focuses on demanding markets in the areas of information and communication technology and automotive, industrial and consumer electronics. The company has a network of design and manufacturing locations and sales offices in Asia, Europe, and in North and South America. In fiscal 2019, TDK posted total sales of USD 12.5 billion and employed about 105,000 people worldwide.

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Contact information

Aya Tohyama, TDK Corporation
+81-3-6778-1055