Ohashi Sets 200m Breaststroke World Record, Wins Gold

Japan's 17-year-old Shin Ohashi won the men's 200m breaststroke at the Asian Games in Tokyo on Thursday, September 24, 2026, touching in 2:04.83 at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre. That time broke China's Qin Haiyang's world record of 2:05.48 from the 2023 Fukuoka worlds and made Ohashi the first man under 2:05. Silver went to Denis Petrashov, 3.84 seconds behind; outlets differ on whether he represents Kazakhstan or Kyrgyzstan. South Korea's Cho Sung Jae took bronze in 2:08.76. Ohashi had entered with a career best and world junior record of 2:06.59, improving by 1.76 seconds. His splits were 28.27, 59.89 at 100m, 1:32.40 at 150m, and a 32.43 close. Only four men have gone under 2:06: Ohashi, Qin, Leon Marchand (2:05.85), and Zac Stubblety-Cook (2:05.95). Ohashi also won 100m breaststroke gold earlier in the meet after a dead heat with China's Dong Zhihao. Qin did not swim the 200m at these Games. Ohashi told reporters the world record was his goal and thanked fans, family, and supporters; he said his next aims are world championships gold, then Olympic gold. Cho said a strong rival performed as he expected and that he had not imagined a world record. Earlier in the week Marchand said he was "very scared" of the young Ohashi and hoped he keeps improving.