is a Japanese

swimmer Swimming is an individual or team racing sport that requires the use of one's entire body to move through water. The sport takes place in pools or open water (e.g., in a sea or lake). Competitive swimming is one of the most popular Olympic ...

and former world record holder in the 200 metre breaststroke.

Career

He competed in the men's 100 metre breaststroke event at the

2016 Summer Olympics The 2016 Summer Olympics (), officially the Games of the XXXI Olympiad () and officially branded as Rio 2016, were an international multi-sport event held from 5 to 21 August 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, with preliminary events i ...

. On 9 August 2016, Watanabe broke the

Olympic record Olympic records are the best performances in a specific event in that event's history in either the Summer Olympic Games or the Winter Olympic Games. Summer Olympics * Archery at the Summer Olympics, Archery (List of Olympic records in archery, li ...

for the men's 200 metre breaststroke event at the 2016 Summer Olympics during the semi-final. In the final, he finished 6th. At the Kosuke Kitajima Cup in

Tokyo Tokyo, officially the Tokyo Metropolis, is the capital of Japan, capital and List of cities in Japan, most populous city in Japan. With a population of over 14 million in the city proper in 2023, it is List of largest cities, one of the most ...

he broke the long course 200 metre breaststroke world record in a time of 2:06.67. He is also the first swimmer ever to go under 2:07.

References

External links

* 1997 births Living people Olympic swimmers for Japan People from Tsukumi, Ōita Swimmers at the 2016 Summer Olympics Swimmers at the 2014 Summer Youth Olympics World record holders in swimming World Aquatics Championships medalists in swimming Asian Games medalists in swimming Swimmers at the 2018 Asian Games Medalists at the 2018 Asian Games Asian Games silver medalists for Japan Youth Olympic gold medalists for Japan Japanese male breaststroke swimmers 21st-century Japanese sportsmen Sportspeople from Ōita Prefecture Swimmers at the 2022 Asian Games Medalists at the 2022 Asian Games Swimmers at the 2024 Summer Olympics {{Japan-swimming-bio-stub