Daiya Seto won the men's 200m individual medley in a competition where top swimmers competed with a good time.
The "Kitajima Kosuke Cup", in which the top domestic swimmers participate, will be held at the Tokyo Tatsumi International Swimming Center in Koto-ku, Tokyo from the 20th, and the 22nd is the final day.
In the men's 200m individual medley, Seto, who was a gold medalist at the world championships four years ago and ranked fourth at the Tokyo Olympics, participated.
Seto had a training camp in Australia over the year-end and New Year holidays and was tired during the race, but in the final, when he jumped out from the start, he pulled away from the other swimmers with his powerful strokes, finishing a good time of 1:56.72. and won the championship with a difference of more than 3 seconds from the second place.
Also, in the men's 200m breaststroke, although he set a world record in this event in the past, he could not participate in the Tokyo Olympics, and Ippei Watanabe, who is aiming to participate in the world championship this year, and the Japanese record holder after participating in the Tokyo Olympics. , Shoma Sato, who missed out on the Japanese national team last season due to a back injury, participated in two players aiming for a comeback.
In the final race, Watanabe held on to Sato, who flew away from the first half of the race, and returned to the first half with a difference of 0.22 seconds.
Seto ``I was tired, but I was able to confirm my ability.''
Daiya Seto, who won the 200-meter individual medley, said, “I think I was able to put in a good performance today. I was able to do a good race,” he said with a satisfied expression.
Based on the strengthening training so far, he said, "I can see the improvement in muscle strength, and I think I got a time in terms of physical strength, and I'm able to swim with plenty of energy. If I can get sharp, I'll have a better time. I think it will come out," he said.
Same winner Sato "I was surprised to see the electronic bulletin board"
Shoma Sato, who tied for victory in the men's 200m breaststroke, looked back on the race, saying, "I thought it would be a fierce battle at the end, but I didn't think it would be so close. I was surprised when I saw the electronic bulletin board." .
Then, "I have a goal of winning all the games that I want to cherish this year, but I couldn't win today, so I want to do my best next time. There are some signs of recovery. There was."
Won the same victory Watanabe "I want to strengthen as a challenger"
Ippei Watanabe, who won the men's 200m breaststroke with the same finish, said, "I knew that the race was progressing while watching where Sato was, and I knew that I was competing at the end, but my body was tight, so I thought at the end. I couldn't swim like that," he recalled.
On top of that, he said, "We won the tie, but it was far from the time we were aiming for, so I think it was necessary to win. Since 2019, I haven't been on the Japanese national team, so I've changed my mind and strengthened myself as a challenger. I want to go," he renewed his determination.