Glamorous Star Stripped of Gold Medal Overnight... Turns Out It Was "Because of Shoe Thickness" [Nagoya Asian Games]

[Financial News] A Kazakhstan athlete who crossed the finish line first in the women's marathon race walk at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games was disqualified the following day for violating shoe regulations and stripped of her gold medal.
According to Japanese media outlet The Answer on the 28th, Yasmina Toxanbayeva of Kazakhstan won the women's marathon race walk held the previous day on a course around the Aichi Prefecture Government Office and Nagoya City Hall, finishing in 3 hours, 22 minutes and 20 seconds.
Toxanbayeva crossed the finish line first, beating two Chinese athletes. Chinese athletes took second and third place, while Japan's Yukiko Umeno finished fourth in 3 hours, 34 minutes and 59 seconds.
Chinese athletes have traditionally dominated the event, so Toxanbayeva wept with emotion after finishing first. However, on the following day, the 28th, she received the devastating news that she had been disqualified for violating the rules.
Toxanbayeva was reportedly disqualified because the thickness of her shoe soles violated regulations. Her disqualification canceled her gold medal, moving every athlete below her up one place. As a result, Umeno, who had finished fourth, received the bronze medal, while Japan's Maika Yarai, who had placed fifth, moved up to fourth.
[email protected] Kim Hee-sun Reporter