Ippei Watanabe Breaks World Junior Record In 200m Breaststroke At Japan Open

Japanese swimmer Ippei Watanabe set a new World Junior Record in the finals of the 200m breaststroke at the Japan Open with a time of 2:09.75.

Watanabe was just under his own record at the touch, bettering the 2:09.89 mark that he swam in April at the Japanese nationals.

This record for Watanabe marks his absolute dominance over the mark for a year. Last year, at the Japan Open as well, Watanabe swam a time of 2:10.23 to set the junior record.

Born in 1997, Watanbe still has some time to improve his record over the course of his career. He’s been improving fairly consistently, and is one of the top candidates to make the team in the 200m breaststroke next year heading into the 2016 Olympic Games.

Currently, he’s ranked 11th in the world behind three Japanese swimmers; demonstrating the absolute depth that the Japanese have in the breaststroke events.

In the race he finished second overall to Kazuki Kohinata. Kohinata was out to a big lead at the 100, but Watanabe managed to slice a big chunk off it with 50 to go. They were almost dead even on the final 50, however Kohinata cruised into a close victory with a time of 2:09.51. That time ranks him eighth in the world this season.

To see the men’s 200m breaststroke results, click here.

To see all the World Junior Records, click here.