Katsuhiro Matsumoto is a competitive swimmer who represents Japan internationally.
International Competition
2017 World Championships/Universiade
In Budapest Matsumoto competed in the 200 free, where he finished 27th overall (1:47.92). He also swam on Japan’s 4×200 free relay (1:46.46), which placed 5th in the final heat. Later that summer, Matsumoto competed at the World University Games in Taiwan, where he helped Japan’s 4×200 free relay to a gold medal.
2018 Pan Pacific Championships
At his home games in Tokyo, Matsumoto won his first individual international medal, touching 3rd in the 200 free (1:45.92) to secure bronze. He also swam on Japan’s bronze winning 4×100 and 4×200 free relays.
2018 Asian Games
In Jakarta, Matsumoto kept his medal streak going later in the month in the 200 free, this time touching for silver in the final heat (1:46.50). He also swam on Japan’s winning 4×100 (47.65) and 4×200 (1:44.85) free relays, both of which set Games Records.
2019 World Championships
Matsumoto competed in the 200 free at the 2019 World Champs, where he won silver behind Chinese swimmer Sun Yang in a time of 1:45.22.
Katsuhiro Matsumoto
2022(3) Asian Games (Hangzhou, China)
Matsumoto kicked off his medal haul in the 800 free relay where he anchored in a 1:45.59, mirroring Tomoru Honda’s earlier split exactly. Japan took bronze. In the 100 fly, it was a tight battle between Matsumoto and Wang Changhao of China for gold. Changhao was out fast, splitting 23.67 on the opening 5m. That put him almost half a second ahead of Matsumoto, who split 24.03 on the first 50. Matsumoto was able to hold on better than Changhao, splitting 27.10 on the 2nd 50 to Changhao’s 27.57 and winning in 51.13.
Matsumoto also showed up on the 400 free and medley relays. In the former, he was Japan’s sole sub-48 split, dropping a 47.97 on the 2nd leg as Japan took bronze. In the latter, he helped Japan to yet another bronze, splitting a solid 50.93 on fly.
