On day 3 of the 2013 Japanese National Championships (in long course), Japan’s Kosuke Hagino has somehow managed to take his swimming to a whole new level.
He added two more victories, bringing his total to 5 wins in 3 days, and crushed his second Japanese and Asian Records of the meet.
First, in a swim that I think would be hard to label as a “surprise” anymore given what he’s done at this meet, Hagino won the men’s 400 free in 3:45.52 – five seconds better than runner-up Kouhei Yamamoto.
That time by Hagino would’ve placed him 4th at last year’s Olympics in a race that Japan didn’t even enter a swimmer in.
Then, on his second swim of the day, the 18-year old crushed the National and Continental Records in the 200 IM, swimming 1:55.74. That took exactly a second-and-a-half off of the 2008 record by Ken Takakuwa of 1:57.24. Hagino now ranks as the 6th-fastest of all-time in the race and makes him a serious contender for a medal at this summer’s World Championships (he placed 5th at the Olympics last year).
Daiya Seto was 2nd in 1:58.66, and Hagino’s fellow Olympic finalist Ken Takakuwa was 3rd in just 1:58.82. That could be the end of the run for the 28-year Takakuwa as a pair of teenagers have taken him over.
He wasn’t the only swimmer to break a National Record on Saturday. Aya Terakawa won the women’s 50 backstroke in 27.51, which knocks two-tenths of a second off of her old record set in May of last year. This swim by Terakawa would have been enough to win the 2011 World Championship in the event, but that was before the emergence of swimmers like Rachel Bootsma and the true fruition of Missy Franklin in the sprint events. That should make this one heck of a battle.
24-year old Haruka Ueda won the women’s 100 freestyle in 55.29, and 17-year old Miki Uchida taking 2nd in 55.43. After it looked like Japanese sprinting was turning a corner last season, the women (much like their men) have been pretty disappointing this week.
Natsumi Hoshi won the women’s 100 fly in 2:06.12 after really dropping the hammer on the third 50 meters (splitting 32.7). The men’s race was won in an equally-impressive time of 1:55.51 by Kobori Yuuki, followed by a 1:55.59 from Daiya Seto.
Barring an override by the selection committee, this would mean that last year’s Olympic bronze medalist in the race Takeshi Matsuda won’t be swimming the race at Worlds after placing 3rd in 1:56.26.
This was a very deep event; Kenta Hirai was 4th in 1:56.40 and Yuuta Kimura was 5th in 1:57.03.
And finally, continuing the theme of swimmers excelling in new races, Kanako Watanabe, the famous breaststroker, was a 2:12.61 to win the women’s 200 IM, followed by Miho Teramura in 2:12.89. This is an event that while surely not brand new for Watanabe, hasn’t been swum with any seriousness in her career before now.
Miyu Ohtsuka took 3rd in 2:13.16, with Miho Takahashi 4th in 2:13.88.
give phelps some credit he swam a 3.46 in the 400 barely training. And was 1.45 in the 200 free at 18
No one is take from Phelps what is legit.He is the greatest Olympian ever.
But you can take in account a swimmer barely bigger than a girl swimmer is capable of match him in many events at the same age.
His 1.55.74 in 200IM surprised me, i was expecting 156 high.
EDIT: I mean “No one will take…”
if im not mistaken phelps was only 1:55.9 when he was 18 though
Actually, comparing to Phelps means respecting Phelps because we all regard him as the best standard.
It’s the same thing when australians compare Kyle Chalmers to Thorpe.
And yes, Hagino’s 1:55.74 is faster than Phelps’ 1:55.9 at the same age.
This is the one that surprised me the most.
I get that Hagino’s faster in 400 free but in 200 IM??
Although it is very likely that due to his smallish stature, Hagino will not be able to scale the heights that Phelps conquered.
Hagino – the mini Phelps. In some ways, he’s even more versatile than the legend. Phelps dabbled in the 400 free, but Hagino is much further along than Phelps was. If you’re not aware already, he set an Asian record in the 400 IM (4:07 high) in addition to this new record in the 200 IM. This week, he swam a 1:46 200 free and a 53 low 100 back (beating Irie). He’s about to swim the 200 back. Keep your eyes on this guy if you’re not already.. He’s going to be great.
Rowdy gaines will act “surprised” if he beats lotche on IM… as always.
And impressive by hagino.. considering he is much smaller than the others Imers or mid distance freestylers..
and not only is he just 18, but he’s a mere 5’9 and 150 lbs (most female swimmers would tower & outweigh him!). he must have the endurance of a marathon runner seeing his physical limitations.
I’m guessing good technique and high turnover
The question is not if he can win a gold and set a WR but how many he will get now. I would not be too surprised if by the end of his career he is one of the top five best ever
Probably not only good.. but amazing.. beating Irie was magnificent too (He who I regard and the guy with the best Backstroke technique in the world )