Japan’s Kosuke Hagino has had a fantastic summer so far. He’s broke the Asian Record in the 400 IM three times, won a bronze medal in the event at the Olympics, and even at his post-championship meets has shown incredible versatility to put up stunning times in different events.
He continued his success from last week’s National High School Championships at this week’s national Junior Olympics by breaking the National High School Record in the 200 back with a 1:55.74. That shaved .07 off of his time from last week of 1:55.81.
In other swims through the first three days of the meet, he broke the Meet Record in the 400 IM with a casual 4:12.07. That bettered his old record by four-and-a-half seconds.
The Japanese are always good for some great young superstars at these junior level meets, and this one was no different. Motosu Imairuna won the girls’ 11-12 100 breaststroke in 1:10.81, a new Japan National Age Group Record.
In the same age group, Ryoka Hasegawa won the girls’ 100 fly in 1:01.17. That’s easily the fastest swim I can think of for an 11-12 butterflier in the history of the world (Cassidy Bayer’s recently-broken NAG Record in the US is six-tenths slower). She was also a 28.07 in the 50 fly.
And finally, in the boys’ 13-14 200 free, Wada Daisei swam a blazing 1:53.32 for the win, and another Meet Record in the event.
Full Meet Results available here.
it may be a disadvantage because swimming is a tough sport and the body needs a lot of rest between swims. Hagino swimming these kind of times at just a 2 week interval, especially the backstroke which is very demanding is very impressive. Akihiro yamaguchi is by far the most impressive youngster in the world. That japanese 11 year old youngster ryoka hasegawa was really fast in the butterfly.
The Japanese youngsters sure have a lot of major competitions during the August period! Many of USA top age groupers have a hard enough time performing at one major meet, let alone several in a small time period! Is there an advantage to this?
let’s not forget the Americans also have high school kids swimming on par with him. nevertheless, this guy is a star in the making.
with Hagino? Who? Maybe Same LEVEL but not on same events.. On their own events Hagino and Yamaguchi are the best youngsters on the world..
And about liquidassets answer.. I think he may be talking about their 2012 times..
Yeah Kalisz is only 4:12 IM and Conger and Murphy only 1:57 backs. And we consider them the future of their events, this Hagino kid is going to be there for awhile!
comparable in some events, not trying to compare on an individual basis.
Don’t try to praise American swimmers because Rafael will pounce on you anytime he has the chance lol.
I think murphy 100 back is probably the best of the world.. as Missy times are amazing and Ledecky the same… so if he is REALLY the best.. I will agree completely.. but sometimes people say like they are the world leaders when they are not..
When I watched him at the Olympics, I had no idea he was still in high school! If he stays on this trajectory he will very soon be a major threat to Clary and everyone else…. well actually he already beat Clary in the 4IM come to think of it…
Clary didn’t swim the 400IM at the Olympics.
Would love to check out the times but the link is in Japanese. Any suggestion to find the results in English?
Nope…for their big senior meets, they’ll post results in both English and Japanese but seem to eschew that for these junior level ones.
Maybe we need to subscribe to Rosetta Stone so we can read their websites!