Junya Koga entered the final of the men’s 100 back as the top seed, and he emerged on top when he won a tight battle with Olympic silver medalist Nick Thoman. Koga took the race out hard, splitting 25.68 at 50 meters, and he held off an impressive back-half push from Thoman to get his hand on the wall first. Koga clocked 53.20, just ahead of Thoman’s 53.23.
Both men spoke to Swimming World shortly after the race. Koga spoke of his race strategy, his continued efforts to break Japan’s national record in the 50 back, and what he thinks it will take to make his country’s Olympic team.
Thoman, meanwhile, discussed how he rebounded in training following his victory in the event at the Pan Am Games. He also spoke about his transition to training at the University of Arizona with fellow 100 back Olympic medalist Matt Grevers</b.
