Even before last month’s Asian Games, young Japanese aces Yumeki Kojima and Shin Ohashi had made a name for themselves, owning multiple World Junior Records and wreaking havoc on the domestic record boards.
Competing in Tokyo brought about even more impressive feats, however, with Kojima ripping WJRs of 1:55.36 and 4:07.02 in the men’s 200m and 400m IMs, respectively, while Ohashi scorched a senior World Record of 2:04.83 en route to topping the 200m breaststroke podium.
The performances caught the eye of 4-time Olympic champion Leon Marchand, as the Frenchman was in Japan during the competition conducting swimming clinics for Japanese junior and senior high school students.
Commenting on the battle between Kojima and Olympic medalist Tomoyuki Matsushita in the 2IM, Marchand said, “Both of them swam wonderfully. Kojima, in particular, is improving incredibly fast.
“I think I’ll be competing against these two as rivals for the next few years, so I’m looking forward to it.”
Speaking about Ohashi, Marchand said, “He’s scary.
“I check what kind of results other swimmers are getting during the season. He’s been doing really well these past few years, so he’s scary, but (at the same time) it’s very exciting for me. (Sponichi)
While both Kojima and Matsushita have quite a ways to go to get within range of Marchand’s World Records of 1:52.69 in the 200m IM and 4:02.50 in the 400m IM, Marchand’s European Record of 2:05.85 in the 200m breast is a second outside of 17-year-old Ohashi’s aforementioned WR.
The respect among competitors goes both ways, with Kojima saying, “Right now, Marchand is the highest target that I’m aiming for.
“I want to keep getting closer to him, even if it’s little by little, and eventually surpass him.”
For Ohashi’s part, the teen commented, “I respect Leon Marchand, we are totally different types and he is an amazing athlete.
“I want to keep improving my times so that I won’t lose to him at the Olympics.” (Japan Today)
