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
- Rio Schedule & Results
- Live Stream (NBC)
On day 2 of the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, the Japanese swimmers continued to impress with 3 new National Records. This time, 2 of the records came on the men’s side, but they were both broken in a single race.
In prelims of the men’s 4×100 free relay, Japan’s Katsumi Nakamura became the first Japanese man to swim under 48 seconds in the 100 free, setting the new Japanese Record at 47.99. Following that opening split, Nakamura’s teammates Shinri Shiroura, Kenji Kobase, and Junya Koga continued on to give the team a new Japanese Record in the 400 free relay, combining for an overall 3:14.17.
On the women’s side, Rikako Ikee made the headlines yet again with her finals swim in the women’s 100 fly. She lowered the Japanese Record for a 3rd time in as many swims, clocking a personal best in tonight’s final. Ikee blazed to a 56.86 to become the first Japanese woman to break the 57-second barrier, and place 6th overall.
Several Asian swimmers advanced to the final after their respective semifinal races tonight. On of the highlights of the semis came in the men’s 200 free, where China’s Sun Yang lead the field to take the top seed in 1:44.63.
Notably, South Korea’s Park Tae Hwan, who came to Rio as the defending silver medalist, missed the semifinals of the men’s 200 free this morning when he placed 20th in 1:47. Park has now failed to advance in both the 200 free and 400 free, which were both medal-winning races for him in London.
There were no new medalists tonight from the Asian swimmers, but they’re set up well for tomorrow night. Aside from Sun, China also has finalists in Fu Yuanhui (women’s 100 back), Shi Jinglin (women’s 100 breast), and Xu Jiayu (men’s 100 back). Japan will have Kosuke Hagino in the men’s 200 free, and Ryosuke Irie in the men’s 100 back.
Records Broken On Day 2:
- Men’s 100 Free- Katsumi Nakamura, 47.99, Japanese Record
- Men’s 400 Free Relay- Japan (Nakamura, Shiroura, Kobase, Koga), 3:14.17, Japanese Record
- Women’s 100 Fly- Rikako Ikee, 56.86, Japanese Record
Asia Swimming Medals Table as of Rio Day 2:
| Country | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
| JPN | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| CHN | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |