Paris Olympics: Japan Spiraling Downward After Second Straight Dismal Games

Paris Olympics: Japan Spiraling Downward After Second Straight Dismal Games

What has happened to Japan?

Three years ago, as the host of the Tokyo Games, Japan managed only three medals in the pool, highlighted by a golden double from Yui Ohashi in the women’s individual medley events. There was also a silver medal from Tomoru Honda in the 200-meter butterfly, but the overall effort – especially on the home stage – was severely disappointing.

Somehow, the 2024 Games in Paris produced even worse results, with Japan managing just one medal out of the 105 available. That is a horrific showing, and a shutout was only averted due to the silver medal won by Tomoyuki Matsushita in the men’s 400 individual medley. To further emphasize the struggles of Japan in the French capital, consider this stat: Only seven men and three women advanced to an individual final.

The fact is, Japan was not expected to flourish at this most-recent edition of the Olympics. Yet, there were hopes for a better performance, and the collection of more than one medal. Instead, the Japanese are treading water while other countries – France, Italy, Canada – leave them behind.

Honda was the biggest failure of the competition. A medalist at the last three editions of the World Champs, including gold in Doha earlier this year, Honda was expected to contend for the podium in Paris. Instead, the 22-year-old cited nerves as the reason he finished 22^nd in prelims and failed to advance to the semifinals. Honda’s time of 1:57.30 was almost four seconds off his personal best.

Veteran Katsuhiro Matsumoto was a non-factor in the final of the 200 freestyle, as he finished eighth in 1:46.26, the only man in the field who didn’t break the 1:46 barrier. Meanwhile, Ohashi didn’t get the chance to defend either of her Olympic titles. Unable to qualify for the Paris Games in the 400 individual medley, Ohashi missed out on the final of the 200 IM after a 12^th-place finish in the semifinals.

Japan is at a significant crossroads. The nation’s past two performances at the Olympic Games have been their worst of the millennium, and far from the 11 medals secured at the 2012 Games in London. There is no hammer in the arsenal, as was the case when Kosuke Kitajima ruled breaststroke or Ryosuke Irie was a consistent presence in the backstroke events.

Whether Japan can turn its hopes around is a huge question mark. Typically, a host country sees a boost in performance during the Olympiad in which it welcomes the world, and that momentum is rolled into the future. In Paris, we saw that scenario unfold for France, as Leon Marchand headlined a strong appearance by the French, who will carry good vibes into the next quad.

However, Japan was dismal during its hosting stint, and moved further in the wrong direction in the ensuing Games. The positive from Paris was Matsushita’s podium finish in the 400m IM. Although Marchand routed the field en route to the first of his four solo titles, Matsushita battled to the silver medal, clipping American Carson Foster, 4:08.62 to 4:08.66.

Matsushita just turned 19 years old and was the gold medalist at the 2023 World Junior Championships. Clearly, he is positioned to carry on the medley tradition of Japan, which most recently has been cared for by Kosuke Hagino and Daiya Seto. More, Mizuki Hirai placed seventh in the 100 butterfly at the Olympics and, at 17, has a bright future.

The key for Japan, though, is finding complementary talent. Otherwise, the Land of the Rising Sun will continue to fade.

Japan Medals at the Olympics (Since 2000)
2024 – 1
2020 – 3
2016 – 7
2012 – 11
2008 – 5
2004 – 8
2000 – 4

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