Japanese teenager breaks swim record

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Tuesday, 3rd April 2012
In Japan Sports News,

Japanese teenager breaks swim record

A high-school pupil from Japan has broken the country's national swimming record for the 400m medley on his way to qualifying for the London 2012 Olympics.

Aged just 17, Kosuke Hagino set a new Japanese record time of four minutes 10.26 seconds, AFP reported.

He beat the world championship bronze medallist Yuya Horihata to record the time, with his 21-year-old rival qualifying in second place with a time of 4:10.52.

Both swimmers will now represent Japan at the Olympics in London this summer.

"It was tough at the last moment, but I did my very best because I knew Horihata would come to catch up with me," he told the news provider.

Meanwhile, Miyu Otsuka and Miho Takahashi booked their places on the plane to England coming in first and second in the women's event, with times of 4:36.64 and 4:37.71 respectively.

Japanese dressage rider Hiroshi Hoketsu will become the oldest Olympian ever when he competes at this year's Games at the age of 71.

Written by Kimberley Homer