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Japanese swimmers break world records

Yuko Nakanishi celebrates her world record in the women's 200m butterfly at the Japan Open short-course swimming championships in Tokyo yesterday. PHOTO: AFP

Olympic bronze medalists Reiko Nakamura and Yuko Nakanishi issued an Olympic warning by setting new world records at the Japan Open short course swimming championships yesterday.

Nakamura clocked two minutes 3.24 seconds to win the women's 200m backstroke, beating the previous mark of 2:03.62 set by Natalie Coughlin of the US in 2001.

Nakanishi timed 2:03.12 to win the women's 200m butterfly, beating the 2:03.53 set by Otylia Jedrzejczak of Poland in December.

"I had targeted to set a new world record, but I was surprised that I actually did it," Nakamura, 25, said.

"I'm going to do it again at the qualifying races for the Olympics in April. Top swimmers in the world are also getting better and better, so I'm determined not to be left behind," she said.

Nakanishi, 26, said she was also pleased.

"Reiko set a new record n the previous race, so it fired me up to follow her," Nakanishi said.

"It was my third time lucky to break the world record. Now I'm able to be ready for the Olympic qualifier in April in pretty good form," she said.

Reiko Nakamura smiles after setting a new world record in the women's 200m backstroke in Tokyo yesterday. PHOTO: AFP

A total of two world records and 12 national records, including two in the heats, were broken in the championships, tune-up races for the national championships in April for places in the Beijing Olympics.

The records of Nakamura and Nakanishi outshone former world record holder Kosuke Kitajima, who won the men's 100m backstroke in a new national mark of 57.62.

"A new world record ... I was close. But considering my current condition, I must be satisfied," said Kitajima, who was recovering from the flu.
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