Daiya Seto Dominates 400 IM at Japanese Champs; Leukemia Survivor Rikako Ikee Qualifies For World Champs

Daiya Seto of Japan shows the gold medal after compete in the 200m Breaststroke Men Final during the FINA Swimming Short Course World Championships at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre in Melbourne, Australia, December 16th, 2022. Photo Giorgio Scala / Deepbluemedia / Insidefoto

Daiya Seto -- Photo Courtesy: Giorgio Scala / Deepbluemedia / Insidefoto

Daiya Seto Dominates 400 IM at Japanese Champs; Leukemia Survivor Rikako Ikee Qualifies For World Champs

For Daiya Seto to regain his title of world champion in the 400-meter individual medley, the Japanese star will need to produce career-best performances with Frenchman and reigning world champ Leon Marchand now headlining the event. If nothing else, Seto showed he is still capable of delivering highlights when he won the 400 IM during the first day of the Japanese Championships.

A multi-time world champion, Seto clocked a swim of 4:07.92 to prevail in the 400 medley, with countryman Tomoru Honda earning the silver medal in 4:10.37. Seto’s qualification for another edition of the World Champs means he will race at home this summer, with the competition scheduled for Fukuoka. Seto is a four-time medalist in the event at the World Champs, including three gold medals, and last year, he won a sixth consecutive short course world title in the 400 IM.

Seto will be back in action later in the week in the 200 individual medley and 200 butterfly.

While Seto starred in his prime event, Leukemia survivor Rikako Ikee earned a berth to the World Champs in the 100 butterfly, which she won in 57.68. Ikee is one of the sport’s feel-good stories, as she battled Leukemia and now continues her comeback.

Meanwhile, rising teen star Mio Narita edged Olympic champion Yui Ohashi in the women’s 200 individual. Narita touched the wall in 2:10.91, with Ohashi going 2:11.00. Narita is the reigning world junior champion in the event and her rise to challenge Ohashi, who won a pair of titles at the 2020 Olympic Games, has been expected.

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