By Hideki Mochizuki, Swimming World Japanese correspondent
TOKYO, Japan, May 21. ACCORDING to several Japanese media reports today regarding the Japanese records recently set in the speedsuits, the Japanese Swimming Federation plans to ratify all of the national records set in all suits so far this year – including Ryosuke Irie's world record in the men's 200 backstroke – regardless of FINA's final decision.
"Even if Irie's world record would not be ratified by FINA, the Japanese Federation will not omit it from the Japanese record book," Japanese Swimming Federation Executive Director Masafumi Izumi said. "The position of the Japanese Federation is different from FINA. Although there are discrepancies, and we are in confusion. The Japanese Federation will have to distinguish FINA's standard and our own standard in the ratification process."
Depending on what FINA does, this could lead to an interesting occasion where a national record is faster than the world record on the books.
The Japanese Federation also plans to ratify all the records set at the Japanese Nationals held April 16-19 in Hamamatsu, Japan. There were 22 national records established, but most of the records were done in suits that have either been banned or are on the list of the 136 that still require modification.
This decision could also impact the world rankings with top times like Yuta Suenaga's men's 200 breast (2:08.77), Junya Koga's men's 100 back (52.87) and Aya Terakawa's women's 100 back (59.67) all highly ranked.
Unilaterally ratifying all of the Japanese records without discussion or global alignment could cause some serious internal confusion within Japan.