Reigning Olympic Champ Yui Ohashi Earns Right to Defend 200 IM Title in Paris

Reigning Olympic Champ Yui Ohashi Earns Right to Defend 200 IM Title in Paris

After missing out on the chance to defend her Olympic title in the 400-meter individual medley earlier in the meet, Yui Ohashi earned the opportunity to defend her crown in the 200 IM. On the final night of the Japanese Olympic Trials, Ohashi posted a time of 2:09.17 to win the 200 IM and easily get under the qualifying standard of 2:10.70. Ohashi was followed to the wall by Shiho Mastsumoto, who went 2:09.90 to also qualify for the Olympic Games in Paris.

“I got so nervous, but I was determined to give 100 percent and see what happens,” said Ohashi, a star at the 2020 Tokyo Games. “I was confident of swimming well over the second half. There were times I thought about giving up in my bid to make the Paris Olympics, but I’ve come this far with the support of people around me.”

Japan also qualified two athletes for Paris in the men’s 100 butterfly, where Katsuhiro Matsumoto was victorious in 50.96. He’ll be joined in the French capital this summer by Naoki Mizunuma, who stopped the clock in 51.23. Matsumoto was already qualified for the Olympics in the 200 freestyle.

Headed to the Paris Games in the 100 butterfly, Leukemia survivor Rikako Ikee was the winner of the 50 freestyle on the final day of action. However, her time of 24.88 was .33 off the required qualifying time established by the Japanese Swimming Federation.

Meet Results

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