2016 RIO OLYMPIC GAMES
- Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Swimming: August 6-13
- Olympic Aquatics Stadium, Barra Olympic Park, Rio de Janeiro
- Prelims – 9:00 a.m/12:00 p.m PST/EST (1:00 p.m local), Finals – 6:00 p.m/9:00 p.m PST/EST (10:00 p.m local)
- SwimSwam previews
- Day 1 Schedule & Results
- Live Stream (NBC)
Katsumi Nakamura was out like a rocket in the first heat of the men’s 4×100 free relay, flying to a 47.99 finish as the lead-off for Japan’s relay.
Not only did Nakamura give Japan a big lead right off the bat, but he broke the Japanese national record and also became the first Japanese man under the 48-second barrier.
Splits
- 23.15 – 24.84 (47.99)
Nakamura had a very strong back-half– it’s not every day you see a 47-second 100 free with a 23 on the first 50. He was the fastest lead-off leg in the first heat by .52, and he takes down his own national record of 48.25 from April.
Japan just snuck into the final tonight, as China’s 4×100 free relay team was disqualified.
Japanese sprinting is starting to make more of a name for itself– in addition to Nakamura’s progressions, teenager Rikako Ikee has taken down multiple World Junior records in her young career, and will swim in the 100 fly final tonight for a medal. Ikee is also a great sprint freestyler, and owns the Japanese 50m and 100m freestyle records.