Archive · 24 Sep 2026
Shin Ohashi Breaks 200m Breaststroke World Record at Asian Games
Shin Ohashi is a 17-year-old swimmer from Japan.
He raced in the 200-meter breaststroke at the 2026 Asian Games.
He finished in 2:04.83, which was faster than the previous world record.
The old record belonged to China’s Qin Haiyang.
Ohashi had also won a gold medal in the 100-meter breaststroke three days earlier.
He became sick with COVID-19 about a week before the competition.
Even so, he reached the goal he had set for himself.
His coach said Ohashi has strong natural muscles and may someday follow Olympic champion Kosuke Kitajima onto the Olympic podium.
Seventeen-year-old Japanese swimmer Shin Ohashi won the men’s 200m breaststroke in 2:04.83 at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre.
Ohashi surpassed Qin Haiyang’s 2:05.48 world record from the 2023 world championships in Fukuoka.
The victory was Ohashi’s second gold medal at the 2026 Asian Games, following his 100m breaststroke win.
Ohashi was diagnosed with COVID-19 about a week before the Asian Games began.
His coach Shin Ota said Ohashi’s natural muscle and relaxed personality contributed to his unusual performance.
- Who
- Shin Ohashi, a 17-year-old Japanese swimmer, won the event.
- What
- He set a world record in the men’s 200m breaststroke with a time of 2:04.83.
- When
- The record was set on Wednesday at the 2026 Asian Games; Ohashi had been diagnosed with COVID-19 about a week earlier.
- Where
- The race took place at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre.
- Why
- Ohashi said breaking the world record was his goal.
- Athlete
- Shin Ohashi
- Age
- 17
- Event
- Men’s 200m breaststroke
- Winning time
- 2:04.83
- Previous record
- 2:05.48, set by Qin Haiyang at the 2023 world championships
- Other 2026 medal
- Gold in the 100m breaststroke three days earlier
- Health setback
- COVID-19 diagnosis approximately one week before the Asian Games