Teenage swimmer Ohashi sets world record after recovering from Covid

Teenage swimmer Shin Ohashi set a world record in the men's 200m breaststroke at the Asian Games, securing his second gold medal of the competition despite having recently recovered from Covid-19.

The 17-year-old's performance stood out as one of the standout moments of the swimming program, with the world record underscoring his rapid emergence as one of the sport's brightest young talents. Details of the illness that preceded his victory highlight the physical challenge of returning to top competitive form in a short window before a major event.

The Asian Games swimming competition has featured a mix of established stars and emerging athletes, with breaststroke events in particular drawing close attention this year. Ohashi's world record adds his name to the list of swimmers who have broken long-standing marks in the event.

His result is likely to raise expectations for his performance at future international meets, including potential world championship and Olympic qualification events, as coaches and analysts assess how his recovery from illness may have affected his training in the lead-up to the Games.

Further details on his training regimen and recovery timeline following his Covid-19 diagnosis were not immediately available.