Japanese teen sets world record weeks after COVID-19 recovery

Japanese swimmer Shin Ohashi broke the world record in the men's 200m breaststroke at the Asian Games, just months after he recovered from COVID-19. The 17-year-old achieved a time of 2:04.83, surpassing the previous record of 2:05.48 set by China's Qin Haiyang at the 2023 World Championships. Ohashi admitted that COVID-19 had caused some mental anxiety during his preparations, but he also noted that the recovery period allowed his body to rest and heal.

This victory marked Ohashi's second gold medal at the Games. Earlier, he shared the 100m breaststroke title with China's Dong Zhihao. Ohashi is considered one of swimming's most promising young talents, having won five gold medals at the World Junior Championships last year. His record-breaking performance adds to his impressive Asian Games campaign and solidifies his status as a prominent figure in international swimming.