Men’s 200 Breaststroke Building Toward Golden Age on Road to LA28
At his peak, no one could match the talent of Mike Barrowman. The American was a specialist in the 200-meter breaststroke and took the event to new heights via the wave-style technique he employed. A product of the University of Michigan, Barrowman stormed to the gold medal in the 200 breast at the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona, and his world record of 2:10.16 endured for a little more than a decade.
Yet, as dominant as Barrowman became, there was a time during his career when he was part of a balanced group of 200 breaststrokers that dueled at various locales around the world. Battles with the likes of Great Britain’s Nick Gillingham were common. So were duels with the Hungarian tandem of Jozsef Szabo and Norbert Rozsa. Also factoring into the elevation of the event was Spaniard Sergio Lopez, now the head coach at Virginia Tech.
So, why the time machine visit to 30-plus years ago? Well, the 200 breaststroke currently features the ingredients – power and depth – present during the Barrowman-led era, and that combination could make the event a can’t-miss discipline on the road to the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
The truth is, the men’s 200 breaststroke was less than thrilling at the recent World Championships in Singapore. While China’s Qin Haiyang captured his second global title over four laps, his time was an uninspiring effort of 2:07.41. The silver and bronze medals were won in 2:07.70 and 2:07.73, respectively. It would be a rush to judgment, however, to suggest the 200 breaststroke is in rough shape.
A deeper look at the event reveals it has a huge upside. At the World Championships, the 200 breaststroke was missing some of its potency for a variety of reasons. France’s Leon Marchand, the reigning Olympic champion, opted to skip the event in Singapore while focusing on the individual medley events. That decision proved wise when Marchand took down the longstanding world record in the 200 IM. More, Aussie Zac Stubblety-Cook was knocked out of the World Champs due to a back injury. The absence of Stubblety-Cook left the 200 breaststroke without the 2020 Olympic champion, a former world titlist and the former world-record holder.
While Marchand pared back his schedule this summer, there is no reason to believe the 200 breaststroke won’t be part of his future program. He ranks as the No. 2 performer in history at 2:05.85, and the Frenchman loves a challenge, such as chasing the 2:05 barrier. Meanwhile, Stubblety-Cook has won every major title in the event and with a personal best of 2:05.95, he’s one of only three athletes to go sub-2:06. During his career, Stubblety-Cook has exhibited enough consistency to believe that once he’s recovered from his back ailment, a return to peak form is inevitable.
Over the past two years, Qin has not matched the excellence he unfurled at the 2023 World Championships in Fukuoka. At that meet, the Chinese star swept the breaststroke events, highlighted by a world record of 2:05.48 in the 200 distance. Despite not yet replicating his times from Japan, Qin medaled in all three breaststroke events at the World Champs in Singapore, and remains the sport’s premier all-around breaststroker. Given his talent, a return to 2:05 range is more likely than not.
Beyond the three-headed monster of veterans, the 200 breaststroke received a boost during the World Junior Championships, where Great Britain’s Filip Nowacki and Japan’s Shin Ohashi put their youthful talent on display. Showdowns between Nowacki and Ohashi were anticipated at World Juniors, and they lived up to expectations – especially in the 200.
In a tight battle, Nowacki captured the gold medal in 2:07.32, a personal best that was just off the British record of 2:07.30, and was faster than what Qin produced at Worlds. Ohashi claimed the silver medal in 2:07.56, a time faster than silver and bronze at Worlds. Certainly, the youngsters confirmed they belong in any conversation about the future of the event.
Going forward, the 17-year-old Nowacki is on the cusp of dipping into the 2:06 range while the 16-year-old Ohashi has already been in that territory, thanks to his world junior record of 2:06.91. Based on their current standing and vast potential, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Nowacki and Ohashi as immediate medal contenders on the senior international scene.
No, the 200 breaststroke did not impress at the World Championships. But the pieces are there for the event to be hotly contested as the Los Angeles Olympics beckon. Let’s hope they fit together.
