17-Year-Old Shin Ohashi Sets World Record in 200m Breaststroke at Asian Games

Shin Ohashi, 17, shattered the world record in the men’s 200-meter breaststroke at the Nagoya Asian Games on September 24, clocking 2:04.83 and winning gold. The Japanese swimmer from Hirakata SS also claimed the 100-meter breaststroke title, matching the early trajectory of Olympic legend Kosuke Kitajima, who set his first world record at age 20 at the 2002 Busan Asian Games.

Record-breaking debut on the world stage

Ohashi’s time of 2:04.83 erased the previous world record of 2:05.48, set by China’s Tan Kaiyong in 2023. The new mark marks the first time any swimmer has broken into the 2:04 range in this event. Ohashi achieved the feat in his first senior international competition, having debuted just weeks earlier at the Pan Pacific Championships in Irvine, California in August, where he won silver in the 100-meter breaststroke.

Following Kitajima’s legendary path

Kitajima, now 44, set his first world record of 2:09.97 in the 200-meter breaststroke at the 2002 Busan Asian Games at age 20. He went on to win gold in both breaststroke events at the 2004 Athens Olympics and repeated the feat at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, becoming the first swimmer ever to win both events at consecutive Olympic Games. Ohashi, at 17, is now walking the same road younger than his predecessor.

Overcoming doubt to deliver under pressure

Before the race, Ohashi harbored doubts, thinking a time in the 2:05 range would suffice. After touching the wall and seeing the world record confirmed on the scoreboard, he said, “I was surprised at how fast it was.” He credited his final 50 meters, executed with a technique he rarely practices, as the key to his victory. Ohashi stated he was thrilled to have achieved the mark and said it reinforced his confidence heading toward the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

Four medals in one Asian Games

At 169 centimeters and 64 kilograms, Ohashi has already accumulated four medals at the Nagoya Asian Games. Beyond his two gold medals in breaststroke, he earned silver in the 400-meter medley relay and mixed 400-meter medley relay. His coach, Shin Ota, describes him as research-focused and dedicated, noting that Ohashi is a typical high school student who loves both swimming and his mobile phone.

Final Thoughts

Ohashi’s world record at 17 positions him as a genuine Olympic contender for Los Angeles 2028. The record suggests he has room to improve further, making him one of the most promising young swimmers in the sport.

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