17-Year-Old Japanese Swimmer Shin Ohashi Sets World Record at Asian Games

Japan’s 17-year-old swimming sensation Shin Ohashi has created history by setting a new world record in the men’s 200m breaststroke at the Asian Games on home soil.

Competing at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre, Ohashi clocked 2 minutes 4.83 seconds to win the gold medal. His time was 0.65 seconds faster than the previous world record.

Ohashi also became the first male swimmer to complete the 200m breaststroke in under 2 minutes and 5 seconds.

The previous world record was held by China’s Qin Haiyang, who posted a time of 2:05.48 at the 2023 World Championships in Fukuoka.

Kazakhstan’s Denis Petrashov finished second, 3.84 seconds behind Ohashi, while South Korea’s Cho Seong-jae took bronze with a time of 2:08.76.

Ohashi had already attracted attention before the Asian Games, with French Olympic 200m breaststroke champion Léon Marchand warning about the Japanese teenager’s potential. Speaking about their future rivalry, Marchand said, “I’m scared. I’m really scared of him.”

Ohashi entered the final with one clear target: the world record. After achieving it while winning gold, the Japanese teenager said he was delighted with the result and thanked his supporters, family and everyone who had backed him.

At just 17, Ohashi’s record-breaking performance marks a major moment in his young career and puts him firmly among the rising stars of world swimming.