**Title: Japan’s Ohashi Breaks 200m Breaststroke World Record at Asian Games**
**Date: September 24, 2026**
In a remarkable display of talent and determination, 17-year-old Shin Ohashi from Japan shattered the men’s 200-meter breaststroke world record during the Asian Games held at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre. Ohashi's record-setting performance on Thursday, where he clocked in at 2 minutes and 4.83 seconds, surpassed the previous record of 2:05.48 set by China’s Qin Haiyang at the 2023 World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka.
Ohashi's achievement not only earned him the gold medal but also drew cheers from a supportive home crowd. Reflecting on his accomplishment, Ohashi expressed his joy, stating, “The world record was my goal, so I’m very happy to get it. Thanks to my fans, my family, all who supported me.” He added that his next aspiration is to secure a gold medal at the upcoming world championships.
In the race, Kazakhstan’s Denis Petrashov finished in second place, trailing Ohashi by 3.84 seconds, while South Korea’s Cho Sung-jae took the bronze with a time of 2:08.76. Cho acknowledged the challenge posed by Ohashi, remarking, “There was a strong rival in the breaststroke. It went exactly as I had thought. Honestly, I never imagined a world record would come out of it. I am delighted to come away with a medal.”
Ohashi's victory comes just days after French swimmer Leon Marchand, the reigning Olympic champion in the 200m breaststroke, recognized Ohashi as a formidable competitor. Marchand stated, “I’m scared. I’m very scared of him. He’s still so young. His coach is really good. I think his entourage, the people around him, are really good, so I hope he’s going to keep improving.”
This latest achievement adds to Ohashi's impressive performance at the Asian Games, where he previously shared the gold medal in the 100m breaststroke with China’s Dong Zhihao, both finishing with a time of 58.64 seconds. Ohashi also contributed to Japan's silver medals in both the men’s and mixed 4x100m medley relays.
As the Asian Games continue, Ohashi has the opportunity to further enhance his medal tally, with the 50m breaststroke event scheduled for Friday. His recent successes have positioned him as a rising star in the swimming world, and many are eager to see how he will continue to develop in the coming years.