Record-Breaking Swim in Tokyo
At the Asian Games in Tokyo on Thursday, 17-year-old Shin Ohashi of Japan set a new world record in the men's 200m breaststroke, finishing in 2 minutes 04.83 seconds. The previous record of 2:05.48 had been held by China's Qin Haiyang since July 2023. Ohashi's time was more than half a second faster, marking a significant improvement in the event.[S1]
Ohashi had already claimed gold in the 100m breaststroke earlier in the week, after a dead heat with China's Dong Zhihao. In the 200m final, he dominated from the start, ultimately touching the wall 3.84 seconds ahead of silver medallist Denis Petrashov of Kyrgyzstan. The race quickly became a time trial against the clock as Ohashi pulled away from the field.[S1]
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Teenager's Ambitions and Gratitude
Reflecting on his achievement, Ohashi expressed joy at breaking the world record, a long-standing goal. He also acknowledged the support he received, noting that many people helped him reach this point despite challenges before the competition. The teenager's focus now shifts to future targets: he aims to win gold at next year's world championships and then at the Olympic Games.[S1]
Ohashi emphasized his desire to avoid complacency, stating that he wants to experience these emotions again. With this performance, he establishes himself as the man to beat at the Los Angeles Olympics in two years' time. Notably, the previous record holder, Qin Haiyang, did not compete in the 200m breaststroke at this year's Asian Games.[S1]
