Japanese teenager Shin Ohashi broke the 200m breaststroke world record at the Asian Games, despite contracting Covid-19 in the build-up.
Ohashi, 17, won in two minutes 4.83 seconds to comfortably break the previous record of 2:05.48, which was set by China’s Qin Haiyang at the 2023 World Championships.
Ohashi is the second teenage prodigy to make headlines during these Games after China’s Yu Zidi, 13, won her third gold on Wednesday.
It is his second gold of the Games after he shared the 100m breaststroke title with China’s Dong Zhihao earlier this week.
“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, with France’s Leon Marchand, the sensation in the pool at the 2024 Paris Olympics, describing the youngster as a “scary” prospect.
Meanwhile, Zhang Zhanshuo, 19, won his sixth gold of the Games as China won the 4x100m freestyle relay.