2018 Japan Swim: Ikee Enters New 100 Free Territory With 53.03

2018 JAPAN SWIM (JAPANESE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS)

• Tuesday, April 3rd – Sunday, April 8th
• Tatsumi International Swim Centre, Tokyo, Japan
• LCM
• Selection meet for Asian Games, Pan Pacific Championships, Jr. Pan Pacific Championships & Youth Olympics
• Meet Site
• SwimSwam Preview
• Start Lists
• Live Results
• Day 1 Prelims/Day 1 Finals
• Day 2 Prelims/Day 2 Finals
• Day 3 Prelims/ Day 3 Finals
• Day 4 Prelims/ Day 4 Finals
• Day 5 Finals

Competing on the final day of the 2018 Japan Swim, 1 of 2 qualifying meets for the Pan Pacific Championships, 17-year-old Rikako Ikee completed her quartet of victories with a gold in the women’s 100m freestyle and 50m fly. Having already collected wins in the 100m fly and 50m freestyle, Ikee had fired off national records in both of those events and topped off her meet with another 2 NR here in Tokyo in this 100m free final and 50m fly.

For the 50m fly, Ikee closed out her competition with a swift 25.43 to shave .01 off of her previous NR to take the gold. That situtates the teen as the 2nd fastest swimmer in the world in the event this season, 2nd only to Sweden’s virtually untouchable Sarah Sjostrom. However, it does take into account the Commonwealth Games’ results, where Australia earned a 1-2-3 sweep.

Entering this week’s competition, Ikee’s personal best and national record stood at the 53.68 notched back in 2016, but the teen already lowered that in the semi-final of these championships. On day 5, Ikee registered a mark of 53.46 to take the top seed.

However, Ikee blasted that standard off the map with a new time of 53.03, dangerously approaching the 53-point border. Splitting a punishing 26.09 and closing in 26.94, Ikee was able to improve upon her semi-final time of 53.46. In that performance, she opened faster in 25.85, but closed much more slowly in 27.61.

For perspective, Ikee’s 53.03 would have finished with the silver at the 2014 Pan Pacific Championships and, more recently, 7th at last year’s World Championships in Budapest, ahead of Bronte Campbell and Emma McKeon.

Getting into the 53-low zone is new territory for Ikee and places her among the world’s best this season. Even taking into account the very quick Commonwealth Games that include the Campbell sisters, Ikee holds her own as the 4th fastest swimmer worldwide thus far.