Asian Games 2026: Japan’s Shin Ohashi Takes 2nd Gold, Sets World Record

Japanese swimmer Shin Ohashi achieved a significant milestone at the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, setting a new world record and earning his second gold medal. On Thursday, Ohashi swam the men's 200-meter breaststroke, finishing the race in an impressive 2 minutes 4.83 seconds. His fellow competitors included Kyrgyzstan's Denis Petrashov, who placed second with a time of 2:08.67, and Ippei Watanabe, who came in fifth with a time of 2:09.50.

Ohashi's accomplishment was notably influenced by the fact that the Asian Games were hosted in Japan. He expressed his gratitude to everyone who supported him in reaching this milestone. Prior to this event, Ohashi had already secured his first gold medal of the Games in the men's 100-meter breaststroke, tying with China's Dong Zhihao.

In other competitions on Thursday, Kotomi Kato claimed victory in the women's 200-meter breaststroke, setting a time of 2:22.57. Her teammate, Satomi Suzuki, finished the race in fourth place with a time of 2:26.69.

Following his record-breaking swim, Ohashi reflected on his achievement, stating that the determination to give his all until the very end fueled his performance.