Veterans Honda and Watanabe Secure Paris Olympics Berths
Experienced swimmers Tomoru Honda and Ippei Watanabe showcased their skills at the Japanese Olympic Trials, earning their spots at the Paris Olympics. However, it was not a smooth sailing for all veterans, as Daiya Seto missed out on qualifying in the 200 butterfly event.
Honda displayed his prowess in the men’s 200 butterfly, finishing second with a time of 1:54.18, well below the Olympic A cut. Despite his impressive performance, Honda was edged out by Genki Terakado, who clocked 1:54.07 to secure the top spot. Terakado’s strong finish in the final 50 meters propelled him to victory in the race.
Daiya Seto’s Third-Place Finish and Tokyo Aquatic Center
Daiya Seto, a veteran swimmer, settled for third place in the 200 butterfly event at the Tokyo Aquatic Center. Although his time of 1:55.40 was under the A cut, Seto missed out on securing a spot for the Paris Olympics. Japan witnessed five swimmers surpassing the A cut, with Takumi Terada in fourth place with a time of 1:55.45, and Riku Tanbo finishing at 1:55.67.
Despite his third-place finish in the 200 butterfly, Seto’s journey to qualify for the Olympics continues. He previously secured the second spot in the 400 individual medley but fell short of the Olympic A cut with a time of 4:10.84. Seto still has the 200 IM event remaining to fulfill his Olympic dream.
Ippei Watanabe’s Effort in 200 Breaststroke
Ippei Watanabe’s smooth victory in the 200 breaststroke event solidified his position for the Paris Olympics. With a commanding time of 2:06.94, Watanabe outpaced his competitors, including Yu Hanaguruma, to secure his spot in Paris. Hanaguruma also showcased an impressive performance, securing his place with a time of 2:07.07.
Yamato Fukasawa, finishing third in the event with a time of 2:07.75, fell short of securing a spot for the Olympics despite surpassing the A cut. The fierce competition in the 200 breaststroke event highlighted the talent and determination of Japanese swimmers vying for a chance to represent their country in Paris.
