12-Year Old Girl Goes 2:25 in 200 Breast; Shioura Breaks 50 Freestyle Record

The Japanese have always had great success from young swimmers, especially in their breaststroke ranks. Their latest budding star, however, has taken that concept to a whole new level. With no Kanako Watanabe in the women’s 200 breaststroke on the final day of the 2013 Japanese National Championships (a surprising revelation – she was the last great youngster), the buzz wasn’t about the race’s victor.

Rather, everyone was talking about the 3rd-place finish from 12-year old Runa Imai who swam a 2:25.14 in the race.

There’s no definitive global listing of times to reference, especially at such a young age, but I would imagine that it’s safe to say that this is the fastest 200 breaststroke we’ve ever seen from a swimmer that age. It’s faster than Annie Zhu’s US National Age Group Record by 9 seconds; and in fact faster than any American 13-14 or 15-16 has ever been either.

Even as compared to the gold standard of young breaststroking, the Australians, Leisel Jones and Rebecca Brown didn’t break that time until they were 16.

But as we must, we turn our attention back to the winners, as Rie Kanetou in 2:23.11 and Satomi Suzuki in 2:24.80 will be the two qualifiers for the World Championships this summer.

In the men’s 200 breaststroke, World Record holder Akihiro Yamaguchi took an easy win in 2:09.31. Maybe less surprisingly than in the women’s race, Kosuke Kitajima didn’t compete in this 200, despite being a two-time Olympic champion. Now at 30 years old, he’s pared himself back to just the sprints it seems.

As for Yamaguchi’s time, though it was well off of his all-time-best from last summer, it probably hit right at expectation based on what he did earlier in the meet in the 100.

As for the continuing saga of Kosuke Hagino’s great success in this meet, he placed 2nd in the 200 backstroke final on Sunday in 1:56.11, just behind Ryosuke Irie who was a 1:55.50. Despite how much success he’s had this weekend, that actually wasn’t his best time of the year, nor was it Irie’s. The two still have at least the four best swims in the world this year combined, though, so Japan could challenge for two medals in this race in Barcelona.

In the men’s 50 free, Shinri Shioura the National Record with a 22.03. That clears the 22.05 set by Kenta Ito last September. The two have traded punches for the last few years, but in this meet Ito was only 2nd in 22.21.

Yayoi Matsumoto won the women’s race in 25.46, with Haruka Ueda 2nd in 25.54.

In the men’s 100 fly, Takuro Fujii won in 52.23, followed by Yuuki Kobori who was a 52.38. Takeshi Matsuda finished back in 7th in 53.14; this has been a challenging meet for Matsuda, who also missed qualifying in the 200 fly.

Full, live meet results available here.

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CC
10 years ago

I personally know this girl myself after receiving the chance to train with her team. She has amazing potential and the last time I saw her in september 2012, she was standing only at 150cm weighing about 39kg.

bobo gigi
10 years ago

I know Asian swimmers are generally very precocius, swim very fast very young and don’t improve very much when they are adult but 2.25 for a 12-year-old girl is still very impressive. Perhaps she will swim 2.23 when she will be 20, but also perhaps she is a genius and she will swim 2.15.

Ben
Reply to  bobo gigi
10 years ago

even if she never improves… if she goes 2:25 for the rest of her life… she will still final at the olympics

Jg
10 years ago

To Carry – I was going to reply to you yesterday but did not want to hog comments. The women’s – or more specifically girls – can swim the 200 with very little deceleration if they have the endurance . They can lack the power for the 100 but being a leg stroke – those little pins can keep going . Their lighter bodies & hip super flex get good drive & keep on going.

Anita Nall , Agnes Kovacs , Watanabe are examples.

WHOKNOWS
10 years ago

Runa Imai link ro past performances
http://www.myswimresults.com.au/PersonalBest.aspx?ID=104210

She did long course breast times of 1:11.74 and 2:31.14 on December 15. 2012.
She did short course meter times of 1:08.27 and 2:24.56 on February 23, 2013.

She may have had a birthday recently – thus making her 13.

aswimfan
10 years ago

In another news, both Agnel and Stravius swam 1:45s.
They can definitely defeat the Phelps-less USA.

Reply to  aswimfan
10 years ago

Aswimfan there were also a 1:46 on French Trials

Them a 1:49.. but Lexeuv who did not swim can go 1:46 too..

If french pull it together they will have 2 1:44 and 2 1:46 = 7 flat!!!

Reply to  Rafael Teixeira
10 years ago

That were the french splits last year

Amaury Leveaux (1:46.70)
Grégory Mallet (1:46.83)
Clément Lefert (1:46.00)
Yannick Agnel (1:43.24)

Lefert won´t swim anymore right?

bobo gigi
Reply to  Rafael Teixeira
10 years ago

Amaury Leveaux can swim 1.46. Can is the good word. But with his bad training since London it’s unlikely. But I continue to think that France will win this relay.
Clément Lefert has retired after London. He wants to be a trader. He has recently won a very smart tv program, splash.
Photos
http://www.tf1.fr/splash/photos/les-photos-de-clement-lefert-dans-splash-7809586.html
Interview
http://videos.tf1.fr/splash/exclusif-l-interview-du-grand-gagnant-de-spash-7847504.html

aswimfan
10 years ago

It seems swimming so many events took toll on Hagino, because based on his PBs in all previous events, he should have swum 1:54 at least.

beachmouse
10 years ago

Kyoko Iwasaki won the 1992 Olympic 200M breaststroke in 2:26.65 at age 14 years, 6 days. Four years later, she failed to final in either the 100 or 200 breast in Atlanta.

The 90s are littered with many girls who had a magical elite level 12-18 months after they finished their puberty growth spurt, and then struggled mightily after that when they Got Hips. I can remember multiple discussions on the old rec.sport.swimming about whether ‘women’s’ breaststroke was effectively dead .

aswimfan
Reply to  beachmouse
10 years ago

Oh.. the good old rec.sport.swimming 🙂

I remember that discussion as well.

The chinese girls like Qi Hui were also still very young when she swam those 2:24-2:25 right?

beachmouse
Reply to  aswimfan
10 years ago

I just looked up Larry Weisenthal for old times sake, and he’s apparently got a successful cancer center practice these days. And his daughter has a successful English Channel swim to her name.

Cabry
Reply to  beachmouse
10 years ago

That is really interesting. Why is the true with breaststroke and not the other strokes?

Jg
Reply to  beachmouse
10 years ago

She later said that she received death threats after her win . thus it is not surprising she did not win again.

Jg
Reply to  Jg
10 years ago

That is Kyoko .

pvk
10 years ago

Converts to a 2:07 scy!!! Ridiculous!

About Braden Keith

Braden Keith

Braden Keith is the Editor-in-Chief and a co-founder/co-owner of SwimSwam.com. He first got his feet wet by building The Swimmers' Circle beginning in January 2010, and now comes to SwimSwam to use that experience and help build a new leader in the sport of swimming. Aside from his life on the InterWet, …

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