Tomoyuki Matsushita Breaks Asian 400 IM Record
Tomoyuki Matsushita set a new Asian and Japanese record of 4:05.83 in the men's 400m IM at the Japanese Intercollegiate Championships, eclipsing Kosuke
Tomoyuki Matsushita swam a 4:05.83 in the men's 400m individual medley final at the 102nd Japanese Intercollegiate Swimming Championships. The 21-year-old Olympic silver medalist broke the Asian and Japanese records with his performance on Thursday, September 3rd in Osaka.
Matsushita's time demolished his previous career best of 4:06.75, set when he won gold at this year's Pan Pacific Championships. He became the first Japanese man and only the fifth man in history to swim under the 4:06 barrier. The swim erased the former Asian standard of 4:06.05, set by Kosuke Hagino when he won gold at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio.
Record-Breaking Performance
The race was not close. Matsushita touched the wall more than two seconds ahead of the silver medalist. Nishikawa Gasaki took second place with a huge personal best of 4:08.03. Riku Yamaguchi claimed the bronze medal in 4:12.00.
According to the source, Matsushita was slower on the front half of the race compared to his old best and Hagino's record. He made up the time with a blistering final 50-meter freestyle leg of 56.74. This performance makes him the fourth-fastest performer in the history of the event.
All-Time Rankings
The swim raise Matsushita into elite company on the all-time performers list. He now sits behind only Leon Marchand, Michael Phelps, and Ryan Lochte. His time is the fastest ever recorded outside of a major elite international meet like the Olympics or World Championships.
| Swimmer | Country | Time | Event |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leon Marchand | FRA | 4:02.50 | 2023 World Championships |
| Michael Phelps | USA | 4:03.84 | 2008 Olympic Games |
| Ryan Lochte | USA | 4:05.18 | 2012 Olympic Games |
| Tomoyuki Matsushita | JPN | 4:05.83 | 102nd Japanese Intercollegiate Championships |
| Chase Kalisz | USA | 4:05.90 | 2017 World Championships |
| Kosuke Hagino | JPN | 4:06.05 | 2016 Olympic Games |
| Daiya Seto | JPN | 4:06.09 | 2020 Kosuke Kitajima Cup |
| Laszlo Cseh | HUN | 4:06.16 | 2008 Olympic Games |
| Carson Build | USA | 4:06.56 | 2022 World Championships |
| Tyler Clary | USA | 4:06.96 | 2009 USA National Championships |
Building Momentum
This record continues a period of rapid improvement for Matsushita. He won Japan's only swimming medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics, a silver, with a time of 4:08.62. He has since swum significantly faster on multiple occasions. He posted a 4:06.93 in March of this year and a 4:07.21 in September 2025 before this record-breaking swim.
The 102nd Japanese Intercollegiate Swimming Championships are being held at the Towa Pharmaceutical Lactab Dome in Osaka. The meet runs from Thursday, September 3rd through Sunday, September 6th and is conducted in a long course meters pool.
