Kanako Watanabe

Watanabe, Matsumoto Double Up On Wins To Close JPN Student C’ships

Full Name:	Kanako Watanabe
Born:	November 15th, 1996
	Arakawa, Tokyo, Japan
Nationality:	Japan
Status:	Active

Kanako Watanabe Born November 15th, 1996 Kanako Watanabe is a Japanese breaststroke and IM specialist. Watanabe was born in Tokyo, and trans under Coach Ryuji Omi. At a young age Watanabe focused on the IM events, but a shoulder injury left her to focus her career on becoming a breaststroker. Japanese competition Watanabe turned up in 2010, after flying relatively under the radar, when she won the 100 and 200-meter breaststrokes at the Junior National Championships. Her performance came after her initial shoulder injury, and her transition from IM to breaststroke. By 2011 she moved on to the senior level, competing at the 2011 Japan Open. She handled the older athletes in the field, pulling in three gold medals in the 50, 100 and 200-meter breaststroke races. 2012 London Olympics At just 15 years old Watanabe made her first Olympic Team in 2012, competing in the 200-meter breaststroke. She missed her first day of high school in order to compete in London, and while most young girls her age were enjoying their first day, she made history as the youngest Japanese athlete to compete in the London Olympics. Her rise at such a young age in London brought fellow countrygoers to refer to her as “The Second Kyoko Iwasaki" -- …

Watanabe, Matsumoto Double Up On Wins To Close JPN Student C’ships

Ippei Watanabe, Kanako Watanabe and Katsuhiro Matsumoto racked up additional wins on the final night of the 94th Japanese Student Swimming Championships.

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Ippei Watanabe Wins 3rd Consecutive Title At Japan Student C’ships

On the back of the Pan Pacific Championships and Asian Games already done and dusted this summer, several Japanese high-profile athletes were back in the pool racing once again, this time locally at the 94th Japan Student Swimming Championships. Ippei Watanabe made his presence known in the men’s 100 breaststroke on day 1.

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