World Aquatics Championships 2023: Qin Haiyang sets world record in 200m to cap historic men's breaststroke hat-trick
The Chinese swimmer shaved almost 0.5 seconds off Olympic champion Zac Stubblety-Cook's mark in Fukuoka to write his own chapter in the record books.
Swimming
Qin Haiyang shattered the men's 200-metre breaststroke world record to win in 2:05.48 at the World Aquatics Championships 2023 in Fukuoka, Japan, on Friday (28 July).
Qin completed a historic hat-trick of breaststroke titles here, having already won the 50 and 100, in races live on Olympic Channel via Olympics.com (territorial restrictions apply) - making him the first swimmer in championships history to pull off the triple in any stroke.
The 24-year-oldChinese swimmer led at every split in the 200 final, holding off a late charge from former world record-holder Zac Stubblety-Cook of Australia (2:06.40).
USA’s Matt Fallon came in third (2:07.74).
Asked of taking almost half a second off Stubblety-Cook’s mark, Qin said, "(It's) not my dream. I dream of a 100 world record.
- World Aquatics Championships 2023: Leon Marchand wins 200m fly for 2nd gold in Fukuoka
- World Aquatics Championships 2023: Leon Marchand destroys Michael Phelps' 400m IM record
- World Aquatics Championships 2023: All final results and medals - complete list
- Swimming at the World Aquatics Championships 2023: Preview, schedule and how to watch live
- How to qualify for swimming at Paris 2024
“Before I came to Fukuoka my goal was to win the 50, 100 and 200 gold medals - and I achieved that goal.
“But the world record for the 200 is a surprise for me because Cook is a very competitive swimmer. I haven’t swam with him before.”
Cook closed hard as he typically does but Qin’s pace was too much. The race’s Tokyo 2020 Olympic champion tipped his hat to his rival who joined him in the 2:05 club.
“Two of us now so it’s exciting times, and building to next year I think it’s exciting in the 200 breast,” Stubblety-Cook said. “There’s some comfort in that I’m faster than this time last year at worlds.
“It starts a conversation. To have someone swim in that class and show that it’s possible is also exciting.”
Qin said he was ready to have a bull’s eye on his back on the road to Paris 2024.
"When I finish a race, everything ends. When I take off the gold medals, it’s a new beginning," he said. "I think of course I will have pressure but every time for a new race, it’s a new challenge, a new beginning for me.
"I’m ready for the future."