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Student, 18, breaks 200 breaststroke world record
Source: AFP |
September 16, 2012, Sunday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
JAPAN'S precocious 18-year-old Akihiro Yamaguchi set a new world record in the men's 200-meter breaststroke yesterday, then vowed to be the next Kosuke Kitajima.
The high-school student clocked two minutes 07.01 seconds, breaking the previous world mark of 2:07.28 set by Daniel Gyurta of Hungary on August 1 at the London Olympics.
"To tell you the truth, I had targeted 2:06:00s," Yamaguchi said after his record-breaking swim at the national games in Gifu, central Japan, adding that he was eager to show off his talent on the world stage.
"I'm really looking forward to the world championships next year. I want to be a swimmer who can succeed Kitajima, whom I admire a lot," he added.
Yamaguchi failed to qualify for the Olympic 100 and 200 races after he finished third over both distances in the national championships, which were won by two-time double Olympic gold medalist Kitajima.
However, Kitajima, 29, did not win a medal in the two events in London.
Yamaguchi came close to Gyurta's 200 world mark when he swam 2:07.84 at a national high-school meet on August 17.
"Since I started working under coach Norimasa Hirai, I have become stronger mentally and my body has become bigger. I think I can compete against the world in the 200 meters. I also want to compete in the 100 meters," he said.
"The moment I started the race, I felt 'I made it'. I felt I was fine during the warm-up, so I had thought I would be able to rewrite my personal best," said Yamaguchi, who started swimming at the age of four.
"I'm really happy about it, but I was a bit disappointed that I couldn't cut 2:07:00."
Yamaguchi sprang to prominence when he rewrote the 100 breaststroke Japanese high-school record and then went on to take the 100 and 200 titles at the world junior championships in July.
The high-school student clocked two minutes 07.01 seconds, breaking the previous world mark of 2:07.28 set by Daniel Gyurta of Hungary on August 1 at the London Olympics.
"To tell you the truth, I had targeted 2:06:00s," Yamaguchi said after his record-breaking swim at the national games in Gifu, central Japan, adding that he was eager to show off his talent on the world stage.
"I'm really looking forward to the world championships next year. I want to be a swimmer who can succeed Kitajima, whom I admire a lot," he added.
Yamaguchi failed to qualify for the Olympic 100 and 200 races after he finished third over both distances in the national championships, which were won by two-time double Olympic gold medalist Kitajima.
However, Kitajima, 29, did not win a medal in the two events in London.
Yamaguchi came close to Gyurta's 200 world mark when he swam 2:07.84 at a national high-school meet on August 17.
"Since I started working under coach Norimasa Hirai, I have become stronger mentally and my body has become bigger. I think I can compete against the world in the 200 meters. I also want to compete in the 100 meters," he said.
"The moment I started the race, I felt 'I made it'. I felt I was fine during the warm-up, so I had thought I would be able to rewrite my personal best," said Yamaguchi, who started swimming at the age of four.
"I'm really happy about it, but I was a bit disappointed that I couldn't cut 2:07:00."
Yamaguchi sprang to prominence when he rewrote the 100 breaststroke Japanese high-school record and then went on to take the 100 and 200 titles at the world junior championships in July.
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