64TH JAPAN SC SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS
- Saturday, October 22nd & Sunday, October 23rd
- Tatsumi International Swimming Center, Tokyo, Japan
- SCM (25m)
- SC World Championships-qualifying meet
- Entries (in Japanese)
- Results
While competing on day one of the 64th Japan Short Course Swimming Championships, Tomoru Honda produced a new World Record in the men’s 200m butterfly.
The reigning Olympic silver medalist posted a massive mark of 1:46.85 to obliterate the previous WR of 1:48.24 teammate Daiya Seto put on the books at the 2018 FINA Short Course World Championships.
Seto was indeed in tonight’s 200m fly final in Tokyo, settling for bronze in a time of 1:50.55 while Teppei Morimoto earned silver in 1:50.52.
Honda’s 1:46.85 from tonight included splits of 51.39/55.46, with his sub-52 second opener well over a second faster than the rest of the field. Seto’s previous WR was comprised of 51.29/56.95 showing how Honda was able to hang on to the speed on the back half en route to producing the fastest 200 fly mark in history.
Old Record 51.29/56.95 – 1:48.24
New Record 51.39/55.46 – 1:46.85
Entering these championships, Honda’s fastest SC 200m fly result rested at the 1:49.84 he hit at this same meet last year. As such, in one year’s time, the national record hold managed to hack 3 seconds off of his best-ever to establish a new World Record.
After the race, Honda told Asian media, “I’m really happy to have achieved it. It’s great. I’m glad that I was able to push myself from the first half and endure the second half. With this time, I want to win a better medal at the Paris Olympics than I did at the Tokyo Olympics.”
Former 200m fly WR holder Seto reportedly smiled at Honda post-race, telling him ‘You’re fast’.
Along with two-time gold medalist Yui Ohashi, Honda’s silver medal at the 2020 Olympic Games was one of the few highlights captured by the host nation in the pool. Despite having the likes of Seto, Shoma Sato, Reona Aoki and more in their stable, Japan had a disappointing showing at the postponed Games, with the nation reaping only 3 medals in all.
Incredible swim. Honda’s always seemed like such a relaxed and fun dude. Doesn’t let pressure get to him and just enjoys the race.
Also– if you watch the race video, his first three turns were definitely not ideal. He’s got a little more in him!
If more long course talent translates to short course we might see the first sub 1:40 textile 200 free or even a sub 2:00 200 breast.
Side note Marchand would be a godsend for mid distance SCM racing right now
Agnel already did this 10 years ago
I guess he was excluding times done by pedophiles
Agnel did a 1:39.70 200 free back in 2012. But we might see someone else swim a sub 1:40 soon
What does that translate to long course? Has to be *at least* 1:51-ish. Amazing how easy his stroke looked taking it out in 51.39, a good sprint time.
Imo he’s the only person that currently is even close to challenging Milak in the future, considering how much he’s training other events currently.
Super impressive awesome swim. Glad the SCM records are being more hotly contested with ISL and increased participation across the board. America catch up, the prize moneys in meters
Sun yang type closing speed
Vtec kicked in that 3rd 50 yo
Extremely interesting, as usual, watching all the results beyond Honda’s impressive WR. Just some remarks: two NRs from Katsuhiro Matsumoto in the men’s 200 free (1.41.67) and Reona Aoki in the women’s 100 breaststroke (1.04.01); impressive depth in the men’s 400 IM (won by Seto in 4.00.70) with seven swimmers (born from 2002 to 2005) sub 4.06; great speed in the men’s 50 fly and an interesting 56.88 from Ippei Watanabe (previous WR holder in LC in the 200 br.) in the men’s 100 breaststroke won by Hinomoto in 56.41.