Swimming: Japan’s Tomoru Honda wins 200 butterfly at world championships

DOHA (Kyodo) — Japan’s Tomoru Honda battled through a sprained ankle to win men’s 200-meter butterfly gold with a powerful final lap at the world championships in Doha on Wednesday.

The 22-year-old Tokyo Olympic silver medalist became the first Japanese swimmer to win the 200 butterfly world crown after pulling away from Italy’s Alberto Razzetti in the last 50 meters at the Qatari capital’s Aspire Dome.

The victory followed back-to-back world championship bronze medals for Honda, who remained neck-and-neck with Razzetti until the final turn.

“I’ve been wishing for this gold medal for so long, so I’m delighted,” Honda said. “I was determined to get through that last 50.”

The Japanese swimmer was still unable to kick without pain after spraining his ankle on Feb 5. The injury left him struggling with the timing of his stroke through the qualifying rounds.

Honda touched the wall in 1 minute, 53.88 seconds, with Razzetti (1:54.65) taking silver and Austria’s Martin Espernberger rounding out the podium (1:55.16). Last year’s world champion, France’s Leon Marchand, did not compete in Doha.

The winning time was well outside Honda’s personal-best 1:52.70 at the Japan Open in December 2022, but the Yokohama native was pleased with the result in light of his injury.

“All I can say is that I am happy,” said Honda,” “I’ve had ups and downs, but I feel as though I could push through them to achieve my goal of winning gold. I’m hopeful of setting an even better time without any injuries.”

Honda has now set his sights on moving up one spot on the Olympic podium at this summer’s Paris Games.

“This was a good start. I want to keep racing with this momentum,” he said.

Compatriot Daiya Seto advanced to the final of the men’s 200 individual medley with the fourth-fastest semifinal time of 1:57.85. American Carson Foster was in pole position after clocking 1:57.13.

Seto, the former 400 IM world champion, said he aimed to replicate Honda’s performance in the final.

“It makes me want to do my best as well,” he said.