ASIA: After 2IM Drop, Ohashi’s Improvement Makes Her a Threat to Hosszu in 400 IM

2017 FINA WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

Japan’s Yui Ohashi had a phenomenal performance in the 200 IM final on night 2 of the 2017 FINA World Championships in Budapest, Hungary. Coming into the meet, Ohashi’s best time in the event was a 2:09.98 from the Japan Open. She cruised into the final with a 2:10.45 in semis, and then obliterated her best time in the final with a 2:07.91 to win silver. That was a full 2 second drop for the Japanese youngster.

Many swim fans would argue that Ohashi is even better in the 400 IM than the 200 IM, and after her showing in the shorter IM event, she’s now emerged as a serious threat for gold in the 400 IM. World Record holder Katinka Hosszu looked like she’d probably be the only swimmer to break 4:30 before the meet started, but is Ohashi makes similar improvements in the 400 IM, Hosszu may not be running away with it as expected.

Hosszu hasn’t been quite as fast this year as she was in the leadup to Rio, and it doesn’t seem likely that we’ll see her in World Record form. When she set the record in Rio, she went a blistering 4:26.36. This summer, a 4:28 or 4:29 seems more likely, and that may be within striking range for Ohashi, who has the fastest time in the world this year with her lifetime best of 4:31.42 from Japan Swim.

DAY 2 RECORDS – ASIA:

  • Women’s 200 IM: Yui Ohashi, Japanese Record, 2:07.91
  • Women’s 200 IM: Kim Seoyeong, Korean Record, 2:10.40
  • Women’s 100 Fly: An Sehyeon, Korean Record, 57.07

DAY 2 MEDAL TABLE – ASIA:

Country Gold Silver Bronze Total
China 1 0 1 2
Japan 0 1 0 1

In This Story

6
Leave a Reply

Subscribe
Notify of

6 Comments
newest
oldest most voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
G.I.N.A
6 years ago

Katinka has unique power application throughout the whole distance but Ohashi floats . – its very dreamy .

Prickle
6 years ago

Two years ago in Kazan Hosszu set the world record at 200IM at the beginning of the meet. Then at the last day of the meet she made 4:30.39 in 400IM. It worth to mention that in between these races she went all the way in 200free competition.
If this pattern is still in place and Hosszu doesn’t scratch 200free competition then I’m ready to bet that after showing us 2:07 only in 200IM she will barely break 4:32.
Ohashi is surfing on the wave on success now bettering her personal best by 2sec(!) at 200 distance. SHould she stay composed then with high probability she will be under 4:30.
Such a logic of translating her 2sec… Read more »

75M FREE
6 years ago

I’d say South Korea women are delivering more than I expected.
Park still looking for the breakthrough…

aquajosh
6 years ago

Ohashi is the future of the 400 IM. Her backstroke is flawless and she doesn’t really have a weak stroke. I’d love to see what she can do in a 200 back.

Wallaby
Reply to  aquajosh
6 years ago

She was a 2:09 or a 2:10 at Japanese nationals

marklewis
6 years ago

Japan has had some good IM’ers. Ohashi has great technique.

I don’t think she’ll beat Katinka. Katinka wants to win for the home crowd. And also to avoid being scolded by her husband.

About Lauren Neidigh

Lauren Neidigh

Lauren Neidigh is a former NCAA swimmer at the University of Arizona (2013-2015) and the University of Florida (2011-2013). While her college swimming career left a bit to be desired, her Snapchat chin selfies and hot takes on Twitter do not disappoint. She's also a high school graduate of The …

Read More »