Hello Tokyo: Daiya Seto Logs 4:06.09 Lifetime Best 400 IM, Now 5th Fastest Ever

2020 KOSUKE KITAJIMA CUP

We’ve already seen some stellar performances here at the 2020 Kosuke Kitajima Cup, to the tune of 30-year-old Ryosuke Irie‘s 52.59 100m backstroke and Katsuhiro Matsumoto‘s 1:45.82 200m free.

However, day 2 brought things to an entirely new level once two-time 2019 World Champion Daiya Seto entered the pool for the 400m IM.

Setting himself apart from the competition early, one which saw Japanese national record holder Kosuke Hagino scratch this morning, Seto posted a heat swim of 4:11.85. That time alone ranks 4th in the world since September 2019 and fell within 2 seconds of Seto’s own season-best of 4:10.04 from November.

Flash forward to tonight’s final, however, and Seto pumped out something truly special, posting a monster 4:06.09 to take gold and produce his nation’s 2nd fastest performance of all-time. His 4:06.09 outing tonight missed Hagino’s national record of 4:06.05 by only .04, checking in as a huge new meet record and another boost of confidence heading into a home nation-hosted Olympic Games.

Splits for Seto’s swim tonight: 24.88 54.22 1:26.31 1:57.68 2:32.44 3:07.51 3:37.37

Entering tonight’s race, Seto’s lifetime best in the 400m IM rested at the 4:07.95 he registered at the 2019 Sette Colli Trophy in Italy.

Putting Seto’s swim into perspective, the man now becomes the 5th fastest performer all-time in the event, booting Hungarian swimming icon Laszlo Cseh to spot #6 among the titans.

Top 5 Men’s 400 IM Performers All-Time

  1. Michael Phelps (USA) 4:03.84, 2008 Olympic Games
  2. Ryan Lochte (USA) 4:05.18, 2012 Olympic Games
  3. Chase Kalisz (USA) 4:05.90, 2017 World Championships
  4. Kosuke Hagino (JPN) 4:06.05, 2016 Olympic Games
  5. Daiya Seto (JPN) 4:06.09, 2020 Kosuke Kitajima Cup

Even more enlightening perhaps is the fact that his performance now ranks as the 7th fastest time ever produced, getting on the list despite the Michael Phelps vs. Ryan Lochte showdown years. His time also establishes the world’s fastest in over 2 years, since American Chase Kalisz‘s 4:05.90 podium-topper at the 2017 World Championships.

Top 5 Men’s 400 IM Performances All-Time

  1. 4:03.84 Michael Phelps (USA), 2008 Olympic Games
  2. 4:05.18 Ryan Lochte (USA), 2012 Olympic Games
  3. 4:05.25 Michael Phelps (USA), 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials
  4. 4:05.90 Chase Kalisz (USA), 2017 World Championships
  5. 4:06.05 Kosuke Hagino (JPN), 2016 Olympic Games
  6. 4:06.08 Ryan Lochte (USA), 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials
  7. 4:06.09 Daiya Seto (JPN), 2020 Kosuke Kitajima Cup

After the race, Seto said he was surprised by the time with it being just January and says there are still ‘corrections’ to be made.

25-year-old Seto has been on-fire, most recently putting up 200m fly and 200m IM lifetime bests of 1:52.53 and 1:55.55, respectively, after taking the 200m IM/400m IM double in Gwangju, Korea at last year’s World Championships. He became his nation’s first man ever to sweep the IM events at a World Championships and automatically qualified for this year’s Olympic Games by doing so.

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Sqimgod
4 years ago
Dbswims
4 years ago

If Seto had Litherland’s closing ability, the 4:03 world record is no more

N P
Reply to  Dbswims
4 years ago

In other news, if Phelps had Cavic’s front-half speed in 100 fly, the WR would be 48. :’)
Honestly though, you’re right.

Ol’ Longhorn
Reply to  Dbswims
4 years ago

Motherland closes bc he literally two-beat kicks backstroke. Pretty sure if Seto shut his legs down on back, he’d be coming home in 57 high.

Admin
Reply to  Ol’ Longhorn
4 years ago

Motherland is a super sketchy autocorrect of Litherland. Ol’ Stalin, is that you?

Ol' Longhorn
Reply to  Braden Keith
4 years ago

Who says it was an autocorrect?

Ol' Longhorn
Reply to  Braden Keith
4 years ago

I like that. Trade in the Stetson for a ushanka.

Teddy
4 years ago

SC? SCM?

Gol-LEE!

FlyNDie
4 years ago

He was literally on world record pace until the freestyle. This man is dropping time like a 14 year old at their state meet

The unoriginal Tim
Reply to  FlyNDie
4 years ago

This is the biggest issue if we want to see him go 4:03. His free is relatively weaker than Phelps. After today I can believe he will go 4:04 high in Tokyo.

DCSWIM
Reply to  The unoriginal Tim
4 years ago

He’s a pretty decent 200 freestyler, showing up on Japan’s 4×200 every once in a while. The problem is that he’s chasing records that were set by 200 free world champions 😅

Doubter
Reply to  DCSWIM
4 years ago

Not just world champions but the 200 free world record holder at the time!

Sqimgod
Reply to  Doubter
4 years ago

To be more specific seto is a 1:47 in the 200 free. Although he doesn’t need to be world champion in the 200 free I do think he does need to improve his 2 free to a 1:45 if he wants the 200 and 400 Im world records.

Ol’ Longhorn
Reply to  Sqimgod
4 years ago

He’s as good in fly and better in breast. He could just as strategically focus on improving his back rather than free.

Togger
Reply to  DCSWIM
4 years ago

It was in a LZR jammer, not sure how much that’s worth over a modern tech suit.

Mr Piano
Reply to  Togger
4 years ago

I’m not really qualified to make this statement because I have never worn an LZR racer, though I’m trying to buy one off eBay.

But I do have a Mizuno, and I can say that it’s truly incredible. It has one thing that the banned suits didn’t have, taping. That’s something these new suits have today. They’re also dual layered, which makes the suit a lot more buoyant. I think Seto was wearing one of the new arena suits, which I think has worked on specifically repelling water.

The only way to know how modern suits compare with the suit Phelps wore is to test it out. Hopefully I can do that in the future. I know someone… Read more »

swimfast
Reply to  The unoriginal Tim
4 years ago

the free is gonna be crucial..phelps’ free was monstrous, possibly his best stroke..so he’ll need a big lead on the WR after breast

Ol' Longhorn
4 years ago

Well, Chase just wet himself.

Superfan
Reply to  Ol' Longhorn
4 years ago

Maybe we know why Chase has been avoiding the 4im!

Jeez Louise
Reply to  Ol' Longhorn
4 years ago

Chase might not even show up to Tokyo at this point

Ol’ Longhorn
Reply to  Jeez Louise
4 years ago

He might not even make the team for Tokyo at this point.

Texas Tap Water
4 years ago

“two-time World Champion Daiya Seto”

Retta, Daiya Seto is three times 400 IM World Champion (2013, 2015, 2019). He also won gold in 200 IM (2019).

Four-time World Champion

Texas Tap Water
4 years ago

He said he took a holiday in December.

Maybe he should take a holiday a month before Tokyo.

Texas Tap Water
4 years ago

Daddy Daiya Demolished!

About Retta Race

Retta Race

Former Masters swimmer and coach Loretta (Retta) thrives on a non-stop but productive schedule. Nowadays, that includes having just earned her MBA while working full-time in IT while owning French 75 Boutique while also providing swimming insight for BBC.

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