Daiya Seto Wins 400 IM At Japan Open On Return Following Suspension
Daiya Seto won the men’s 400IM at the Japan Open on his comeback from suspension from national team activities following an extra-marital affair.
The Olympic bronze medallist was banned by the Japanese Swimming Federation in October for failing to live up the expected standards for sportsmanlike conduct.
That followed his resignation as captain from the Japanese Olympic swimming team in September after he admitted to the affair.
As well as being suspended, the four-time world champion lost his image-rights agreement with the Japanese Olympic Committee and his sponsorship with All Nippon Airways Co.
Daiya Seto: Photo Courtesy: Becca Wyant
The ban ran through until the end of 2020 and he returned to the water at the Tokyo Aquatics Centre – where the Olympic swimming programme is scheduled to be staged this coming July – on Thursday.
The 26-year-old qualified second through the heats in 4:14.98 with Olympic champion Kosuke Hagino in sixth.
Seto lowered that time to 4:12.57 to take first despite the fast final 100 of Yuki Ikari who touched in 4:12.91.
Hagino stopped the clock at 4:16.38 for sixth.
Seto told reporters:
“I’m sorry my actions let down those people who had been supporting me.”
National record-holder Katsumi Nakamura won the men’s 100 free in 48.53, holding off world 200fr silver medallist Katsuhiro Matsumoto who touched second in 48.63.
Shoma Sato overhauled Ippei Watanabe to win the men’s 100 breaststroke.
Sato – who last month became the fifth man to join the 2:06 club over 200br – was 0.05 behind at halfway but a second 50 of 31.33 propelled him past his team-mate to stop the clock at 59.67 with Watanabe touching in 59.75.
Reona Aoki: Photo Courtesy: Mine Kasapoglu / ISL
Reona Aoki went away on the second 50 to win the women’s 100br.
The 2018 Pan-Pacific bronze medallist was joint first with Kyukino Miyasaka at halfway with both women turning in 31.44.
Aoki, though, pulled away with a second 50 of 35.54 to stop the clock at 1:06.98.
Kanako Watanabe – who set the national record of 1:05.88 back in April 2014 – came through for second in 1:07.17 with Miyasaka third in 1:07.44.
Yuya Tanaka won the men’s 50 fly in 23.35, 0.08 off Kenga Ida‘s national record of 23.27 from 2019.
Waka Kobori won the women’s 400fr in 4:07.24 and Aki Nishizu took the 50 fly in 26.25.
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