Junya Koga Breaks U.S. Open Record in 50 Backstroke at U.S. Nationals

With no spot on Japan’s World Championships team, Michigan-trained Junya Koga has seemed on a special mission all season long in the 50 backstroke.

He’s made more American headlines in that race than anyone since Randall Bal, and he’s gotten another one today as he broke the new U.S. Open Record during a time trial swim at U.S. Nationals on Thursday afternoon.

Koga swam a 24.36, racing alone, to break his own record of 24.50 done earlier this year at the Athens Sectionals meet in July. Prior to that, David Plummer held the record in 24.52.

U.S. Open Records, as compared to “American Records,” can be done by a swimmer of any nationality, but most be set on American soil.

The 28-year old Koga was the 2009 World Champion in the 100 back and runner-up in the 50 back, in what is still a Japanese and Asian Record of 24.24.

The swim will go down as the 11th-fastest result of all-time. Koga also holds the 6th, 7th, and 8th-fastest times in history.

Koga is scheduled to swim the 100 back, 50 free, and 100 free during regular competition at Nationals, beginning with the 100 back on Friday.

The men’s 50 backstroke at the World Championships begins on Saturday with the preliminary rounds. Koga currently owns the fastest time in the world.

http://swimswam.com/ranking/2014-2015-lcm-men-50-back/