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| Season | Pokémon DP: Sinnoh League Victors (Season 13) · On the road to Daybreak Town arc (DP158–DP160) |
| Episode | Season 13, episode 3 · English episode 622 · Japanese episode 627 · Bulbapedia code DP160 |
| English title | A Marathon Rivalry! |
| Japanese title | 燃えよカビゴン！ポケスロンの王者！！ Moe yo Kabigon! Pokesuron no Ōja!! — “Get Fired Up, Kabigon! King of the Pokéthlon!!” |
| First aired (Japan) | 21 January 2010 · TV Tokyo |
| First aired (US) | 19 June 2010 · Cartoon Network |
| Screenplay | Junki Takegami |
| Opening / ending (Japan) | Saikō – Everyday! (The Greatest – Everyday!) – Fumie Akiyoshi · Dotchi~nyo? (Which One ~ Is It?), Version 1 – Moomoo Milk and Araki-san |
| English opening | We Will Carry On! – Adam Elk |
| Previous episode | Short and To the Punch! (DP159) |
| Next episode | Yes in Dee Dee, It’s Dawn! (DP161) |
Filler / stand-alone episodeAsh’s first Pokéathlon
A Marathon Rivalry! is the 3rd episode of Pokémon DP: Sinnoh League Victors, the thirteenth season of the Pokémon anime, and the 622nd episode of the English dub overall (Japanese episode 627, Bulbapedia code DP160). It first aired in Japan on 21 January 2010 and in the United States on 19 June 2010. It falls within the season’s On the road to Daybreak Town stretch (EP158–EP160).
Synopsis
Ash competes in his first Pokéathlon against Daniel, a scientist who trains his Snorlax by data rather than feeling. The friends meet Daniel when his Snorlax launches Pikachu and Piplup off a forest trampoline, and Ash scoffs at his headband-linked treadmill training. Daniel declines a battle and proposes the Camellia Town Pokéathlon instead.
In the Disc Catch, Monferno and Daniel’s Hitmonlee tie with twenty points each. During the break, Team Rocket’s fake massage tent lures away Snorlax and Pikachu, and when the tent collapses the pair are found caged and tied beneath the trio’s balloon. Daniel uses a trampoline to fling Snorlax into the balloon, sending Team Rocket blasting off, and Snorlax cushions Pikachu’s fall.
In the Hurdle Dash, the Trainers signal their Pokémon through visors and Pikachu and Snorlax finish neck and neck. The judges award the race to Snorlax because its belly crossed first, making Daniel the champion. The rivals shake hands, each admitting the other’s method has merit, and Dawn looks ahead to her next Contest.
Major Events
- Ash’s first Pokéathlon: Monferno and Daniel’s Hitmonlee tie the Disc Catch at twenty points each, and Daniel’s Snorlax wins the Hurdle Dash by a belly, so Ash finishes second
- The Pokéathlon poster shows only Generation II Pokémon, a nod to HeartGold and SoulSilver
- Daniel’s debut
Trivia
- The screenplay is by Junki Takegami.
- This is a stand-alone episode: it can be skipped without losing the thread of the Sinnoh story.
Changes in the English Dub
- A live-action music video replaces the animation of the Japanese ending
Part of our Pokémon DP: Sinnoh League Victors guide. Browse every season of the Pokémon anime.