Matsumoto Becomes Japan’s Second Man Under 51 In 100 Butterfly

By Retta Race on SwimSwam

2023 JAPAN SWIM

• Tuesday, April 4th – Sunday, April 9th
• Prelims at 9:30 am local (8:30 pm previous night EDT)/A-Finals at ~5:00 pm local (4:00 am EDT)
• Tokyo Aquatics Center
• LCM (50m)
• Qualification Meet For World Championships, World Junior Championships, World University Games, Asian Games
• JPN Selection Criteria
• Entries (in Japanese)
• Day 1 Finals Recap/Day 2 Finals Recap/Day 3 Finals Recap/Day 4 Finals Recap
• Live Results
• Livestream

While competing on day four of the 2023 Japan Swim, Katsuhiro Matsumoto became just the second man ever from his nation to get under the 51-second threshold in the 100m butterfly event.

After securing lane four out of the heats with a morning effort of 51.40, 26-year-old Matsumoto fired off a lifetime best of 50.96 to claim the national title.

Opening in 23.79 and closing in 27.17, Matsumoto denied national record holder Naoki Mizunuma the gold. Mizunuma hit 51.35 while Takaya Yasue clocked 51.59 to round out the top 3.

All of the top 3 finishers dipped under the Japanese Swimming Federation-mandated time standard of 51.67 needed to qualify for this summer’s World Championships.

Entering this competition, Matsumoto’s career-quickest in this 1fly event rested at the 51.18 he put up at the 2022 Japan Trials. He raced at last year’s World Championships where he ultimately placed 13th with a result of 51.57.

Mizunuma owns the national record with the 50.81 he registered in the semi-finals in Budapest. Mizunuma wound up as the World Championships silver medalist with a mark of 50.94 behind winner Kristof Milak of Hungary.

Matsumoto’s 50.96 PB now ranks him 3rd in the world on the season.

This 100m fly marks Matsumoto’s 3rd individual title at these Championships. He already topped the men’s 100m free podium in a new national record of 47.85 and also grabbed gold in the 200m free in an effort of 1:44.98.

SwimSwam: Matsumoto Becomes Japan’s Second Man Under 51 In 100 Butterfly