The 2025 Japan Open just wrapped up, and let me tell you, it was a showstopper! From record-breaking performances to unexpected upsets, this event had it all. But here's where it gets controversial: did Australia's dominance overshadow the host nation's achievements, or did Japan hold its own in the face of fierce competition? Let's dive into the highlights and let you decide.
The Tokyo Aquatics Center played host to this thrilling event from November 28th to 30th, featuring long-course meters (LCM) races. You can catch all the details on the Meet Central page, and don't miss the SwimSwam Preview for a sneak peek at what went down. For a deeper dive, check out the Day 1 Recap and Day 2 Recap. If you missed the action, you can still watch the Live Results or the Livestream.
Australia Steals the Show
Olympic champion Cameron McEvoy was the undisputed star of the men’s 50m freestyle, clocking an impressive 21.38 to claim gold. At 31, McEvoy proved age is just a number, leading a trio of foreign swimmers to the podium. His compatriot, 20-year-old Flynn Southam, snagged silver with a personal best of 21.85, while Canada’s Ruslan Gaziev took bronze in 21.93. Japan’s Shuya Matsumoto was the fastest home athlete, finishing fourth in 22.18. McEvoy’s time was just a hair off his Paris Olympic gold time of 21.25 and a mere .24 seconds off his 2025 World Championships win.
Southam’s silver was a breakthrough moment, as he dipped under the 22-second barrier for the first time. According to Swimming Australia, his previous personal best was 22.22, set earlier this year. This new time places him as Australia’s 11th-fastest 50m freestyle swimmer ever. Gaziev also shattered his personal best, dropping from 22.21 to 21.93, making him Canada’s third-fastest all-time in this event. Here’s how they stack up globally:
Top 5 Canadian Men’s LCM 50 Freestyle Performers All-Time
1. Josh Liendo – 21.48, 2024
2. Brent Hayden – 21.73, 2009
3. Ruslan Gaziev – 21.93, 2025
4. Yuri Kisil – 22.01, 2024
5. Ilya Kharun – 22.06, 2025
McEvoy, Southam, and Gaziev currently rank #1, #3, and #4 in the world this season, respectively. Check out the full rankings here.
Japan’s Moments to Shine
While Australia dominated, Japan had its moments. Tomoyuki Matsushita delivered a stunning 1:55.60 in the men’s 200m IM, a new personal best and the third-fastest time in Japanese history. Read more about his performance here. Mizuki Hirai, an 18-year-old University of Tennessee swimmer, claimed gold in the women’s 100m butterfly with a time of 57.27, adding to her 50m fly gold from the previous night.
The Teen Sensation
And this is the part most people miss: 16-year-old Shin Ohashi nearly broke his own World Junior Record in the men’s 200m breaststroke, finishing in 2:06.96—just .05 seconds off his record of 2:06.91. His performance was nothing short of breathtaking, solidifying his position as the world’s top swimmer in this event, even outpacing world champion Qin Haiyang of China. Here’s a split comparison:
| Split | WJR (2:06.91) | Japan Open (2:06.96) |
|--------|----------------|-----------------------|
| 1st 50m | 28.52 | 28.46 |
| 2nd 50m | 32.42 (1:00.94) | 32.55 (1:01.01) |
| 3rd 50m | 32.82 | 32.92 |
| 4th 50m | 33.15 | 33.03 |
Ohashi’s dominance is undeniable, but is he the future of breaststroke? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
Other Notable Performances
- Matt Temple (Australia) won the men’s 100m butterfly in 50.92, leading a 1-2 Aussie finish with Ben Armbruster (51.22). Japan’s Tomonobu Gomi took bronze in 51.58.
- Taylor Ruck (Canada) led the women’s 50m freestyle final in 25.03, with Korea’s Hur Yeonkyung (25.18) and Australia’s Abbey Webb (25.24) rounding out the podium.
- Jenna Forrester (Australia) capped her successful meet with gold in the 200m IM, clocking 2:11.27 in a tight race with Shiho Matsumoto (2:11.46) and Mio Narita (2:11.52).
- Ingrid Wilm (Canada) doubled her gold tally with a win in the 50m backstroke (27.57), edging out Australia’s Iona Anderson (27.71).
- Chuang Mu-Lun (Taipei) set a new national record in the men’s 50m backstroke, winning gold in 25.32.
- Satomi Suzuki (Japan) completed a breaststroke sweep, winning the 200m breast in 2:25.55, just ahead of Kotomi Kato (2:26.55) and Canada’s Sophie Angus (2:26.60).
Final Thoughts
The 2025 Japan Open was a testament to the global talent in swimming, with Australia and Japan leading the charge. But here’s the question: did Australia’s dominance overshadow Japan’s achievements, or did the host nation hold its own? Share your thoughts below—we’d love to hear your take on this debate!
