Japan’s Shin Ohashi Again Breaks World Junior Record in 200 Breaststroke
One month after first breaking the world junior record in the 200-meter breaststroke, Japan’s Shin Ohashi has taken the WJR standard below 2:07. Racing in high school competition, Ohashi posted a time of 2:06.91, which improved on his 2:07.27 record from June. In the process, Ohashi became the 10th swimmer in history to break the 2:07 barrier in the event.
Ohashi will not compete at the World Championships in Singapore, where swimming action will get underway on Sunday. The 16-year-old finished fourth at Japan’s Trials, shy of a berth to Worlds. However, he is expected to compete in the 100 breaststroke and 200 breaststroke at the World Junior Championships in Romania, which will run from August 19-24.
In his record-breaking swim, Ohashi was out in 28.52 for the opening 50 meters and turned at the halfway point in 1:00.94. He split 1:33.76 at 150 meters and came home in a closing split of 33.15. By breaking 2:07, Ohashi became the third Japanese swimmer to accomplish the feat, joining Shoma Sato (2:06.40) and Ippei Watanabe (2:06.67).
At the World Championships, Japan will send Watanabe and Yamato Fukasawa to the starting blocks. Watanabe’s best time this season is 2:07.64 while Fukasawa has been 2:07.47 during the 2025 season.
