[4][5] Takahashi competed in the finals of the 1997 World Championships 5000 meter race in Athens, where she finished in 13th place.

[3] Two months later, she won the 5000 meter race in the Osaka Japan Grand Prix with a time of 15:21.

At the 2001 Berlin Marathon, Takahashi became the first woman to break the 2 hour 20 minute barrier, finishing in a world record time of 2:19:46 and more than eight minutes ahead of the second place finisher, the previous world record holder Tegla Loroupe.

[12] The Gifu Seiryu Half Marathon was launched in 2011 with the honorary title being the Naoko Takahashi Cup.

[13] Since her retirement from competitive running, Takahashi has also worked as a sportscaster,[14] marathon commentator,[15] served as a Japanese Olympic Committee (JOC) executive,[citation needed] and served as an executive member of the Japan Association of Athletics Federations (JAAF).