Shin Ohashi breaks 200m breaststroke world record at Asian Games after Covid

Japanese 17-year-old Shin Ohashi broke the 200m breaststroke world record at the Asian Games on 24 September 2026, having contracted Covid-19 in the build-up to the meet.

Ohashi touched in 2 minutes 4.83 seconds to eclipse the previous mark of 2:05.48 set by China's Qin Haiyang at the 2023 World Championships; he is one of several teenagers making headlines at these Games, following China's Yu Zidi, 13, who won her third gold on Wednesday. Earlier in the week Ohashi had shared the 100m breaststroke title with China's Dong Zhihao.

"Regarding Covid, after all, there was a part where it created a little anxiety for me mentally," Ohashi said after his victory. "But, conversely, physically I think it was good that I was able to properly rest my body as a period ​of recovery."

Ohashi won five golds at the World Junior Championships last year, and France's Leon Marchand described the youngster as a "scary" prospect.

Zhang Zhanshuo, 19, collected his sixth gold of the Games as China won the 4x100m freestyle relay.

The 200m breaststroke gold is Ohashi's second at these Asian Games.