Daiya Seto of Japan, 2016 Olympic medalist and two-time world champion at the 2019 FINA World Aquatic Championships, has decided on his return date to competition from his 2020 suspension.
The 26-year-old world record holder has confirmed to SwimSwam today that he will be competing at the 2021 Japan Open, a competition taking place February 4th through February 7th at the newly-constructed Tokyo Aquatics Center. This is the site of the pool swimming action at this year’s Olympic Games.
Seto also confirmed to me today he will be contesting the 200m IM, 400m IM and 200m fly, with the 4IM coming first on February 4th. This outing will represent Seto’s first race in over 5 months.
As a refresher on Seto’s non-sport-related suspension from competition by the Japanese Swimming Federation (JASF), in September of 2020 Seto admitted to having an extramarital affair. This was deemed an ethics violation by the JASF, resulting in Seto relinquishing his Olympic team captainship, as well as his image rights agreement with the Japanese Olympic Committee. You can read more on the situation here.
As such, Seto withdrew from last year’s Japanese Short Course Championships and was unable to compete as a member of the new International Swimming League (ISL) squad of the Tokyo Frog Kings.
Still able to train, however, Seto told me that he is still training under his friend and coach Ryuichiro Ura, with whom he teamed up last spring.
Seto has already qualified for the 2020 Olympic Games by becoming Japan’s first-ever double IM World champion with his 200m IM and 400m IM victories in Gwangju. Those gold medal-worthy performances earned Seto an automatic bid to compete at a home-based Olympic Games; it still holds with the postponement as well as despite the JASF ethics violation suspension.
Seto has said in the past he will be eyeing the 200m fly as a 3rd individual Olympic event and he will also most likely be racing for a chance to compete on the men’s 4x200m freestyle relay.
I don’t get why he would get banned in swimming for having an affair. What does his personal affairs have to do with sports?
I am not justifying adultery but this seems like an overreaction by a sporting authority.
Phelps got banned (ish) for a DUI. That’s personal affairs interfering in sports.
It’s just a matter of culture differences: in Japan, an extra-marital affair is considered a sufficient offence to warrant this ban.
He really shouldn’t have imo but at least he broke a law while Seto didn’t.
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/community/2015/10/25/issues/japan-adultery-can-cost-job-well-marriage/
Actually he may have broken Japanese common law.
Fūkibinran – an affront to public morality,” “a breakdown in customary discipline” or, perhaps, “compromising love relations.
On that note I don’t hold athletes as role models and simply as entertainment.
I guess you have to respect every country and culture (and more specific, every governing sport body) has their own ideas on what ethical behavior is, and what deserves punishment/suspension. I’m not convinced a consensual relationship ( even when married) is deserving of this, but again my opinion. Hope he can get his house in order and get back to the pool.
Always exciting when Seto swims. He’s always been extremely good in season. Good luck to him.
I hope he can release a statement on how he is changing ethically as well and not just physically. I really want to forgive this guy he is so talented and has so much potential.
You make it sound like he did the worst thing ever. If he was French he’d have been behaving within normal social bounds.
Wife
Girlfriend
Mistress
Trois Monsieur
Alternatively you could just try minding your own business.
What is this, Plymouth, Ma in 1622?
Really really hope you’re being sarcastic
Lmao as fas as I know he cheated he’s not a cheater. That would only make sense if he was Tiger Woods.